Indian defence analyst praises Pakistani policymakers
New Delhi: Senior Indian defence analyst Parveen Sawhney has acknowledged the competence of Pakistani policymakers, saying that unlike India, Pakistan understands when to engage with the United States and when to maintain distance in order to safeguard its national interests.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Parveen Sawhney made these remarks during an interview while discussing the evolving regional situation. Referring to former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s famous quote that “it may be dangerous to be America’s enemy, but to be America’s friend is fatal,” Sawhney said India had effectively followed the latter course by becoming a close ally of Washington.
He said Pakistan had adopted a completely different strategy, demonstrating a clear understanding of when to cooperate with the United States and when to keep its distance in order to protect its national interests.
Sawhney noted that Pakistan’s unique diplomatic capabilities are highly valued by major global powers, particularly China and Russia. He added that Pakistan’s institutional expertise has made it one of the most viable mediators between the United States and Iran.
The Indian analyst said India’s biggest mistake was assuming that the United States would treat it as an equal partner, adding that such expectations were unrealistic. He suggested that India should support Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS in order to avoid diplomatic isolation.
Parveen Sawhney further stated that Pakistan’s strong position in the current geopolitical environment stems largely from the extensive experience of its military leadership in navigating complex foreign policy challenges and maintaining a consistent strategic approach. This, he said, enables Pakistan to engage effectively with the United States without compromising its regional relationships.
Criticising Indian foreign policy, Sawhney said New Delhi focused primarily on strengthening ties with Washington instead of developing a long-term independent strategy. As a result, he said, global attention is gradually shifting away from India towards Eurasia, creating conditions that increasingly favour Pakistan.
He maintained that Pakistan enjoys advantages in the changing regional environment due to a combination of three key factors: its strategic geographical location, its status as an Islamic country, and its possession of nuclear weapons.
