Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir’s invitation to US Army Day has raised eyebrows in New Delhi, sparking debate over whether India’s foreign policy is failing to keep pace with geopolitical realities. Here's a detailed breakdown of this.
Introduction
The diplomatic landscape in South Asia is once again in the spotlight. General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, has not only been invited to attend the prestigious US Army Day celebrations but has also received praise from Washington. This development has ignited widespread debate in Indian strategic circles, prompting a familiar question: Has India’s foreign policy failed again? Amid growing complexities in global alliances and regional dynamics, the optics of this gesture cannot be dismissed lightly as seen.
Washington’s Warm Embrace of Asim Munir
The invitation extended to General Asim Munir for US Army Day is more than just a ceremonial gesture. It’s a clear signal of Washington’s strategic balancing act in South Asia. The praise he received during his US visit, with references to Pakistan's “important role in regional stability and counter-terrorism efforts,” has particularly ruffled feathers in India.
For a country like India that prides itself on its growing global stature, Washington’s overture towards Pakistan’s military establishment seems like a diplomatic snub. This has raised uncomfortable question in this regrad: Is India losing its strategic edge in Washington’s corridors of power? Or is this simply the U.S. keeping its options open in an increasingly multipolar world?
India’s Balancing Act: Too Passive?
India’s foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often been lauded for its confident and independent approach. From walking the tightrope between Russia and the West amid the Ukraine war to strengthening ties with Middle Eastern and Indo-Pacific partners, New Delhi has pursued a ‘multi-alignment’ strategy.
But critics argue that this very strategy is becoming too cautious—too slow. With the rise of defence pacts like AUKUS and stronger US-Pakistan military backchannel conversations, India’s apparent silence or passive response is now being seen by some as a lack of assertiveness from Indian side. The optics of General Asim Munir enjoying high-level meetings in Washington while India remains stuck in bureaucratic diplomacy are difficult to ignore in this world.
Reigniting the Old Triangle: India, Pakistan, and the US
India and Pakistan have long competed for Washington’s strategic favour. After the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan was dubbed a “major non-NATO ally.” Yet, over the past decade, India managed to cultivate stronger ties with the US—through defence deals, the QUAD partnership, and a booming tech alliance.
But General Munir’s visit indicates that the US may be recalibrating its approach, possibly to maintain leverage over both South Asian powers. For India, which has taken pride in being viewed as a reliable democratic ally to the US, this is a stark reminder that geopolitics is always transactional.
Is India’s Foreign Policy Losing Direction?
It’s not just about General Munir’s visit—it’s about what it represents. India’s foreign policy under the External Affairs Ministry has focused extensively on global platforms like the G20, BRICS, and SCO. However, some analysts argue that India is falling behind in bilateral lobbying and tactical diplomacy—especially when it comes to military and security engagement with the US.
India’s over-reliance on its status as a “rising global power” might be blinding it to the day-to-day diplomacy that countries like Pakistan are still aggressively pursuing. The failure to foresee or counter such moves raises valid concerns about whether India is focusing on the wrong priorities.
The Defence Diplomacy Gap
While India has been investing in indigenous defence production and strengthening maritime alliances, its military diplomacy lacks the finesse seen in Pakistan's outreach. General Munir’s presence in Washington underscores how military diplomacy—quiet, strategic, and persistent—can still open doors that traditional diplomacy sometimes cannot.
Why isn’t India’s military leadership equally prominent on the international stage? Is it time India recalibrated its approach and integrated its defence diplomacy more closely with its foreign policy goals?
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for South Block?
General Asim Munir’s invitation and warm reception in Washington should be seen as a wake-up call for New Delhi. While it may not necessarily signal a complete shift in US strategic priorities, it does expose cracks in India’s diplomatic strategy.
India must now introspect: Is it becoming too comfortable with symbolic diplomacy and missing out on realpolitik? In a rapidly shifting world order, presence, perception, and power projection matter more than ever.
If India wishes to retain its influence and avoid being sidelined, it must rethink its diplomatic engagement, especially with traditional allies like the US—before symbolic gestures become strategic setbacks.
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