The Trump administration has positively turned India friendly. It issued a severe indictment of Pakistan in its first public assessment of the region. Islamabad has been blamed for worsening ties with India. Pakistan has been warned against pursuit of tactical nuclear weapons which potentially lowers the threshold for their use. Pakistan has been described as ‘terroristan’. The US has said that Pakistan’s continued support to militants and India’s growing intolerance of this policy caused a deterioration of bilateral relations between the two countries in 2016. It appears that India ties may be further hurt this year. That is inevitable in the event of another intensive attack in India. Delhi claims that such terror strikes originate in or receive assistance from the Pakistani Civilian government and Army. The mounting tension between the two countries cannot be eased or official dialogue renewed unless cross-border attacks by terrorist groups in Pakistan are reduced. The Pathankot investigation should also be speeded up. This view was expressed by Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence in the US.
It has also been argued that Pak-based terror groups will present a sustained threat to US interests in the region, both in India and in Afghanistan. The proposed China Pakistan Economic Corridor will offer militants additional targets. The US has slapped further sanctions on LeT and JUD as well as Jamaat-ud-Dawan. India should welcome the US move.