American Prof John Mearsheimer on International Geopolitics in South Asia

[Riaz Haq]

Professor John Mearsheimer, a renowned international relations expert known for his theory of "offensive realism", has recently spoken to India's CNN-News18 about the impact of US-China competition on geopolitics in South Asia. Sharing his thoughts in interviews on India-Pakistan conflict after the Pahalgam attack, he said: "There is really no military solution to this (Kashmir) problem. The only way this can be solved once and for all is through a political solution that both sides find acceptable". 

Professor John Mearsheimer on India-Pakistan Conflict

Professor John Mearsheimer is a highly respected professor of political science at the University of Chicago. Here's how he introduces himself on his personal website:  "I am the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Chicago, where I have taught since 1982. Above all else, I am an international relations theorist. More specifically, I am a realist, which means that I believe that the great powers dominate the international system, and they constantly engage in security competition with each other, which sometimes leads to war". 

He has said that neither China nor the US want a full-scale war between India and Pakistan that could escalate into a nuclear war. However, it is in China's interest to "see significant tensions between India and Pakistan to get India to devote a lot of its strategic thinking and resources against Pakistan" rather than on China. The US, on the other hand, wants India to focus all its energies on countering China. 

Talking about the recent "Operation Sindoor" launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Pakistan, Mearsheimer said it will not deter Pakistan. "By Operation Sindoor, India has responded like it has in the past. Don't think India wants a major war with Pakistan, it can't dominate on the lower or even the middle rungs of the escalation ladder", he said. 

On Chinese involvement in South Asia, Mearsheimer said: "China-Pakistan relations are quite good. The Chinese are providing excellent weaponry to Pakistan and will provide even better weapons in future".  "I don’t think China wants an India-Pakistan war but it wants to see significant tensions between India and Pakistan to get India to devote a lot of its strategic thinking and resources against Pakistan", he added. 

Talking about the US interest in South Asia, he said: "When it comes to countering China, India is the most important country for the US in South Asia. But the US also wants to maintain good relations with Pakistan to try to peel it away from China". 

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[Riaz Haq]

Many countries, including Pakistan, have condemned the Pahalgam attack. But no major power has agreed with India's accusation against Pakistan.

Modi's policy of blaming Pakistan without evidence for militancy in Kashmir no longer works.

Read this: https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1932441769297273042

Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
“Instead of backing for the military strikes, New Delhi was counselled by one and all – including Russia and Ukraine – to talk to Pakistan. India's neighbourhood was quiet. Even Nepal, which lost a national in the Pahalgam terror attack, made no statement…”
@tallstories

India's aim of isolating Pakistan is at a dead end Caught flat-footed by the apparent return of the hyphen between India and Pakistan, New Delhi's first reaction was denial. So, even the ceasefire is not a ceasefire, but a ‘stoppage of firing’ by Nirupama Subramaniam

For nearly a decade, driven by big terrorist strikes in Kashmir, India's approach on Pakistan has been focused on isolating the country in the international community by projecting it as a sponsor of terrorism in India, and thus a threat to regional stability. It is clear that effort has failed.

The coup de grace was delivered when the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council elected Pakistan, a non-permanent member for 2025-2026, to chair of the Taliban sanctions committee, and vice-chair of the counter-terror committee of the United Nations Security Council. The chair and vice-chairs are appointed for a year. But all decisions in a committee require the consensus of all 15 members.

Pakistan's UNSC coup came at a time when India's all party delegations were touring the world to spread the message that its western neighbour needs to be made accountable for terrorist actions emanating from its territory.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/indias-aim-of-isolating-pakist...

[Riaz Haq]

Rabia Akhtar
@Rabs_AA
Sanjaya Baru’s article dismantles the illusion of Pakistan’s isolation and calls on India to confront the diminishing returns of its narrative-driven diplomacy.

For over two decades, India has invested immense diplomatic capital, media muscle, and strategic messaging into discrediting Pakistan on the global stage. From branding it a terrorist state to declaring it a global pariah, New Delhi believed it could narratively isolate Pakistan out of relevance.

Indians must ask: What has that investment yielded?

In May 2025, during one of the most intense India-Pakistan crises in recent memory, the international community did not rally around Indian claims, it watched with unease. While India pounded the disinformation drums, Pakistan was elected Vice-Chair of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee. The IMF, World Bank, and ADB extended crucial financial lifelines. U.S. mediation took center stage. China, Russia, Turkey, the Gulf states, all engaged Pakistan without buying into India’s script.

India’s strategy of silencing, not engaging, has left it narratively adrift and strategically short-sighted. The world does not see Pakistan through Indian talking points anymore. It sees a nuclear-armed, diplomatically engaged, strategically relevant actor, one India can neither wish away nor define on its own terms.

If there is any lesson here, it is this: demonizing Pakistan has not isolated it, it has isolated India’s understanding of Pakistan. It is perhaps time for New Delhi to update its map of perception.

Time to reassess, size up Pakistan https://tribuneindia.com/news/comment/time-to-reassess-size-up-paki...

https://x.com/Rabs_AA/status/1932477744748621994

[Riaz Haq]

Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
Narrative is a function of reality. India suffered significant combat losses on the first night which it wants to paper over. It is by hiding the reality that you lose the narrative war globally. Domestically you can make the people believe that Karachi was about to be captured.


https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1932291800171168138

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Pakistan used Chinese weapons in its fight with India. The impact may be far-reaching : NPR

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/10/nx-s1-5421262/pakistan-used-chinese-...

[Riaz Haq]

FJ
@Natsecjeff
Top CENTCOM commander declares Pakistan a "phenomenal partner" in counterterrorism for America.

This is the opposite of what India was expecting to hear.

https://x.com/Natsecjeff/status/1932739907262279823

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US Centcom chief lauds ‘phenomenal partner’ Pakistan in counter-terrorism efforts - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

https://www.dawn.com/news/1916524


United States Central Command (Centcom) commander Army General Michael Kurilla on Wednesday praised Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner in the world of counter-terrorism”, citing the nation’s struggle against terrorism in Balochistan and against terrorist groups like the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K).

Pakistan and the US reaffirmed the continuation of counter-terrorism cooperation during a dialogue in Washington on May 10. The dialogue underscored the cooperation between the two countries in addressing the most pressing challenges to regional and global security, including the threats posed by terrorist outfits such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and IS-K.

The two nations are slated to have another counter-terrorism dialogue this month.

[Riaz Haq]

Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
The question is not what value Pakistan holds for the US. The question is the lies we were told that after Modi and Jaishankar, the US is now completely beholden to India and doesn't care for Pakistan at all. The lies were told by editors, columnists, diplomats and think-tankers.

https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1932816283659350524

[Riaz Haq]

Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
The question is not what value Pakistan holds for the US. The question is the lies we were told that after Modi and Jaishankar, the US is now completely beholden to India and doesn't care for Pakistan at all. The lies were told by editors, columnists, diplomats and think-tankers.

https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1932816283659350524

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Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
The real stuff seems to be actually in Gen Kurilla’s Q&A which
@clary_co
just tweeted. Tells you of how the US military leadership looks at Pakistan when it comes to terrorism. (That sounds quite different from how Modi, Jaishankar and Tharoor wish to portray Pakistan.)

https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1932691747022184692

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Christopher Clary
@clary_co
From CENTCOM Commander Gen. Kurilla's testimony to the House Armed Services Cmte: "ISIS-K remains an active branch..., presenting a formidable global EXOPS [external ops] threat that requires a network of partners – such as Pakistan, Uzbekistan, & Tajikistan – to combat." /1

https://x.com/clary_co/status/1932671891988250957

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15h
"ISIS-K has been disrupted through pressure by both the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, though they continue to retain a significant network and freedom of maneuver in the tribal areas." /2


-----------

Christopher Clary
@clary_co
"Opportunity also exists... where we can expand counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan and other Central Asian partners. The actions of our Pakistani partners [on] Mohammad Sharifullah... highlights Pakistan’s value as a Parter" /4

--------------


Christopher Clary
@clary_co
"Pakistan continues to hunt ISIS-K in their border areas, executing dozens of operations to kill and capture multiple leaders, including the mastermind of the Abbey Gate attack that claimed 13 American lives." /5

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·
15h
"ISIS-K has been disrupted through pressure by both the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, though they continue to retain a significant network and freedom of maneuver in the tribal areas." /2
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
"These sanctuaries will give ISIS fighters the space to plan attacks against its ‘near enemy’ – our Partners in the Region – & its ultimate ‘far enemy’ – the U.S. Homeland." /3
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
"Opportunity also exists... where we can expand counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan and other Central Asian partners. The actions of our Pakistani partners [on] Mohammad Sharifullah... highlights Pakistan’s value as a Parter" /4
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
"Pakistan continues to hunt ISIS-K in their border areas, executing dozens of operations to kill and capture multiple leaders, including the mastermind of the Abbey Gate attack that claimed 13 American lives." /5
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
From his prepared testimony: https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/uscentcom_posture_sta...

[Riaz Haq]

@clary_co
·
15h
"ISIS-K has been disrupted through pressure by both the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, though they continue to retain a significant network and freedom of maneuver in the tribal areas." /2
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
"These sanctuaries will give ISIS fighters the space to plan attacks against its ‘near enemy’ – our Partners in the Region – & its ultimate ‘far enemy’ – the U.S. Homeland." /3
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·

@clary_co
"So we are seeing Pakistan, with limited intelligence that we provide, and go after them using their means to do that, and we’re seeing an effect on ISIS Khorasan." /9

------------

Christopher Clary
@clary_co
"At the same point, they [ISIS-K] are continuing to move around. Sometimes they will try and go back into Afghanistan. We have the means to be able to collect, but for the most part right now they’re hanging out right in that border area of Pakistan." /10

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Post

See new posts
Conversation
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
"Opportunity also exists... where we can expand counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan and other Central Asian partners. The actions of our Pakistani partners [on] Mohammad Sharifullah... highlights Pakistan’s value as a Parter" /4
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
"Pakistan continues to hunt ISIS-K in their border areas, executing dozens of operations to kill and capture multiple leaders, including the mastermind of the Abbey Gate attack that claimed 13 American lives." /5
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
15h
From his prepared testimony: https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/uscentcom_posture_sta...
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
14h
But wait... there's more. From the Q&A. (I had to review this part via video so it took a little longer.) The relevant Pakistan sections are in this second part of the HASC video stream.
From defense.gov
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
14h
"Right now what we saw was the Taliban in going after ISIS-K—they hate each other—pushed a lot of them into the tribal areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border." /6
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
14h
"Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan—they have gone after ISIS Khorasan, killing dozens of them. Through our relationship we have with them, and providing intelligence, they have captured at least five ISIS Khorasan high-value individuals." /7
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
14h
"They extradited back Jafar..., one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing. The first person... the chief of the army staff Munir [called] was me & said, “I’ve caught him, ready to extradite him back to US, please tell the Secretary of Defense & the President.” /8
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
14h
"So we are seeing Pakistan, with limited intelligence that we provide, and go after them using their means to do that, and we’re seeing an effect on ISIS Khorasan." /9
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
·
14h
"At the same point, they [ISIS-K] are continuing to move around. Sometimes they will try and go back into Afghanistan. We have the means to be able to collect, but for the most part right now they’re hanging out right in that border area of Pakistan." /10
Christopher Clary
@clary_co
"Since [the start of] 2024... Pakistan has had over 1,000 terrorist attacks in the western area, killing about 700 security & [2,500] civilians. They have an active counterterrorism fight right now, & they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world." /11

---------------

Christopher Clary
@clary_co
ISIS-K "have attempted other attacks, and there was actually ties—in the classified setting I can talk—in terms of plots against the homeland..." /12

-----------

Christopher Clary
@clary_co
"That’s why we need, we have to have a relationship with Pakistan & with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can’t have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has." /end

https://x.com/clary_co/status/1932689631327248754

[Riaz Haq]

Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
"A strange mix of insularity and delusion, propped up by a media at once sycophantic and hallucinatory, has kept us in denial about the steep drop of the world’s perception of India."

https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1933016375997403478

-------------

Mind the gulf
By Saikat Majumdar

https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/mind-the-gulf-a-crisis-in-in...

India’s image problem has now moved into a state of crisis. The gulf between how the country is perceived from outside and the picture of India promoted by the current national government has grown to a point of tragedy or comedy, depending on your perspective. Life, Byron said once, is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think. Feelings might have taken the driver’s seat, particularly with the brutal tragedy of the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, but the sobriety of honest thought is essential to assess the reality of the conflict with Pakistan that followed. This is where comedy returns, not only as a mark of thinking over feeling but, sadly, also of grotesquery of a different order. It takes us back to the longstanding problem of India’s international image and its startling contrast with the dominant domestic editions.

The question glares on the trip trail of the international public relations team of multiparty parliamentarians to tell the Indian side of the story in the recent standoff with Pakistan. The Georgetown academic, Christine Fair, gets it exactly right in her interview with Scroll when she points out that the very need for such a delegation marks something of a serious communication failure on the international stage. Pakistan, she reminds us, has been far better at communicating with the Western media. That India has failed at this is the irony of India’s size and heft, both economic and political, and its importance as a functioning democracy, if a rapidly declining one. But if size makes us complacent and inward looking, then we have a problem. We may fume at being bracketed with Pakistan. But sadly, this also shows that we have forgotten how to speak to others, particularly to outsiders who do not buy the ideological marketing of nationalist pride that distorts home truths for our citizenry.

An indifference to the world outside and the global image of the nation is sometimes characteristic of large nations that have enough within their own borders to preoccupy them. No nation has shown this as revealingly in the modern world as the United States of America whose cultural insularity is the stuff of legend. When you’re in the heart of Middle America where nothing but America is visible for thousands of miles all around, it can get hard to see other cultures beyond your land. Arriving in one such state in the last year of the last millennium as a student, I was appalled at the local image of India as the land of poverty, Gandhi, and the Taj Mahal. But even then, the impending computer glitch of Y2K had brought droves of Indian software engineers to the US, and as I moved to the east coast for doctoral study shortly after the turn of the millennium, I encountered a distinct change in the American image of India. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other hubs of information technology as well as students and professionals from these domains increasingly defined the country; the ‘third world’ image from the Midwest in 1999 already seemed to belong to another age. When in 2007, somewhere between the arrival of Facebook and the iPhone, I took a faculty position at a university in the San Francisco Bay Area, I entered a world where being Indian was synonymous with being smart, specifically a tech-geek — possibly a start-up founder or an ambitious Google employee in Palo Alto, where I lived, occasionally spotting Mark Zuckerberg in the local farmers’ market.

[Riaz Haq]

Mind the gulf
By Saikat Majumdar

https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/mind-the-gulf-a-crisis-in-in...

From California, the world seemed to look further west, to Taiwan and Hong Kong rather than to western Europe that loomed over the east coast and shaped what Amit Chaudhuri has called America’s “heritage modernity”. Miraculously, India seemed to be an extended part of this Rising Asia, not only in the tech culture it imported through immigrant and outsourced labour but also in the same breath as the great Asian Tiger of China. The market crash of 2008, coupled with the inauguration of the Barack Obama presidency, generated the feeling that the centre of gravity of the world was shifting from the White West and Asia offered the richest promise.

From being bracketed with China in the first and the early second decade of the twenty-first century, India is now back in the bracket with Pakistan and Bangladesh, just the way things used to be in the 20th century. A strange mix of insularity and delusion, propped up by a media at once sycophantic and hallucinatory, has kept us in denial about the steep drop of the world’s perception of India. Living in India and following the flatulent rhetoric of the government and stakeholders beholden to this leadership, one is made to believe in India’s ‘massive’ economy and vishwaguru status and take a few shopping malls, bullet trains and flyovers, the bare-normal steps of inevitable modernisation, as giant leaps into a shiny global future. But as Pratap Bhanu Mehta pointed out in an article in The Indian Express this February, while India’s delusion of relevance continues to be relentlessly driven by our internal machineries of ideology and a pliant media, neither in global trade, soft power, or political heft does India matter a fraction of what a country of this size and population should — and certainly far less than what our leaders in power would have us believe.

As someone who now lives in Delhi’s National Capital Region but continues to spend time in different parts of the world, including Africa and Europe, I see both the internal projection and the external reality and the absurd gulf between them. In research institutes, think tanks and policy centres abroad, one hears China in almost every conversation, but India rarely comes up. As the East Asian giant wrests global academic leadership away from the US, particularly in science and tech and most sharply in Artificial Intelligence research, India’s research output remains puny in volume and significance on the global scale. Our sheer size and whatever remaining semblance of democracy we offer give us a podium on the world scale that we immediately squander by being inconsequential on all fronts. No wonder we are left to vie with Pakistan to get the world to take our version of the truth seriously.

Saikat Majumdar is currently a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Study in Budapest