News spread quickly after the US Department of Defense released a list that the US had signed a contract to supply Pakistan with new missiles—specifically, AIM-120 “Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles” (AMRAAM). This report naturally created a wave of concern in India, as these are the same missiles that the Pakistan Air Force had used in the aerial conflict against India after the 2019 Balakot attacks. But now the US Embassy has not only termed this news as “misleading” but has also clarified that no new missile or upgrade assistance is being provided to Pakistan, it is merely a technical amendment to an old contract related to “sustainment and spare parts”.
This clarification comes at a time when the talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have created a new stir on the global and especially South Asian strategic scene. The question is, can this clarification be seen as a signal of a change in America’s South Asia policy? Is Washington really now giving priority to India instead of Pakistan?
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If seen, this quick clarification from the US Embassy is a diplomatic message in itself. The US, which has a keen understanding of the balance of power in South Asia, knows that any hint of arms assistance to Pakistan creates deep resentment in India, especially at a time when the India-US strategic partnership QUAD, Indo-Pacific and defense technology cooperation is at a new high.
This statement by the US administration is not just “candor” but a strategic signal—it shows that Washington now wants to avoid confusing signals that could undermine India’s confidence. If the US had indeed given Pakistan new missile systems or weapons like AMRAM, it would have revived Pakistan’s F-16 capabilities and adversely affected India’s air superiority. Therefore, this clarification is also a preventive step in that direction.
It is also worth noting that this “clarification” came soon after the Modi-Trump talks. Although this may be called a coincidence, coincidences in diplomatic timing are rare. Symbols matter greatly in US foreign policy and the apparent objective seems to be to send a message to India that “Washington understands and prioritizes New Delhi’s concerns.” Let us tell you that during the Modi-Trump talks, Modi congratulated US President Donald Trump on the ‘success’ of the first phase of the US-mediated peace plan for Gaza and praised him for his efforts to end hostilities. In a post on X, Modi said he and Trump also reviewed “good progress” in trade talks. This was the second phone conversation between Modi and Trump in the last three weeks. The US Embassy’s denial of the existence of any Pakistan-related missile deal right after the Modi-Trump talks on Thursday signals a realignment of America’s strategic priorities. This aligns with part of the US “Indo-Pacific strategy” in which India is seen as a central balancing power and not a partner with limited strategic utility like Pakistan.
Let us tell you once again that America has clearly said that whatever contract-related service is being provided to Pakistan is limited to “Sustainment and spare parts”. This means that it is only a maintenance arrangement for the old F-16 aircraft and not providing new weapons or technology. This will not bring any qualitative improvement in Pakistan’s current strategic capability. If seen, this situation is reassuring for India, because the technical dependence of Pakistan’s military structure has been on American platforms. But after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, this dependence has declined and Pakistan is now more inclined towards China. In such a situation, the usefulness of investment in Pakistan for America has become limited.
Let us tell you that the basic objective of American strategy in South Asia has been to maintain balance. During the Cold War, this balance was tilted towards Pakistan, but in the second decade of the 21st century, India’s economic, technological and diplomatic power has changed the equation. Now America’s long-term goal is to find a stable, reliable partner against China and that partner can only be India. In this context, the immediate consideration of India’s objections and clarification by the US Embassy is indicative of a permanent restructuring of this policy.
Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the US has sent a diplomatic “message” to India through this clarification that Washington now understands and respects New Delhi’s strategic sensitivities in South Asia. The US is also well aware that India is no longer just a “market” but a central pillar of the global security and technology supply chain. Therefore, providing any new military aid to Pakistan would not only anger India but also weaken America’s own Indo-Pacific strategy. In this sense, the US Embassy’s statement is not just a “media clarification” but an indication of the new reality in the strategic politics of South Asia that now the center of America’s South Asia policy is New Delhi, not Islamabad.