The Future of U.S.-India Security Cooperation by Sumit Ganguly & M. Chris Mason

Author:Sumit Ganguly & M. Chris Mason [Ganguly, Sumit & Mason, M. Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781526155146
Google: vm_zzQEACAAJ
Goodreads: 55829571
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Published: 2021-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

Part V

Counterterrorism cooperation

9

The U.S.–India counterterrorism relationship: striking the balance

Tricia Bacon

Introduction

The U.S.–India strategic partnership is often heralded as rooted in the shared values of democracies,1 but in practice the counterterrorism relationship is a sometimes uneasy combination of shared values and interests that do not fully align, especially when it comes to Pakistan. Despite differences, since the efforts to forge a stronger relationship between the two countries began in earnest in 2000, counterterrorism has featured prominently on the bilateral agenda. Counterterrorism was one of the main issues, arguably the main issue, that provided a foundation for the strategic partnership.2

But since about 2015, counterterrorism has been eclipsed by other issues, most notably defense, China, and economic and trade issues.3 While there are broader strategic reasons for this change, most notably China’s rise, it is also the result of shifts in counterterrorism. For the U.S., while its involvement in Afghanistan persists, the focal point for its counterterrorism efforts has shifted back from South Asia to the Middle East. In addition, both countries have made strides in their counterterrorism capabilities, especially in terms of their abilities to protect their homelands.4 India also increased its ability to strike back quickly at Pakistan in response to terrorist attacks.5 These developments created more space for other strategic issues to rise on the U.S.–India bilateral relationship agenda.

While the decline in focus may seem like a negative development for the two countries’ counterterrorism relationship or even the strategic partnership writ large, it is not. The combination of being among the priorities without being the highest priority strikes a balance of getting enough senior attention to keep cooperation growing and expanding, but not so much emphasis that the divergences in this realm significantly hinder the relationship.

There is an important exception to the decline in emphasis on counterterrorism: during crises precipitated by terrorist attacks on India emanating from Pakistan. However, such crises are not primarily about terrorism for the U.S. They raise serious concerns about escalation and miscalculation that could lead to a nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan.6 These crises have produced both subsequent progress in the U.S.–India counterterrorism relationship – often leading to new initiatives and efforts to collaborate – as well as tensions, as the U.S. rarely satisfies India in its subsequent approach to Pakistan. In other words, crises caused by terrorist attacks create opportunities for cooperation and bring to the forefront the differences in the counterterrorism relationship caused by Pakistan with little prospect for satisfactory resolution.

Nonetheless, with some important exceptions, the U.S.–India counterterrorism relationship has been characterized by incremental progress.7 The two countries have worked closely since 2018 to pressure Pakistan through international institutions, like the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force.8 Though there is still divergence, the U.S.’s view on Pakistan has grown closer to India’s longstanding position, though backsliding is inevitable and full alignment is unlikely. Through the counterterrorism relationship with India, the U.S. primarily seeks to: disrupt and prevent attacks in India, which includes pressuring Pakistan; weaken groups that threaten India, albeit with limitations on what the U.

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