Daily Times

Sir: It is brutal realpolitik, not rhetoric that determines direction of inter-state relations. Till yesterday we were USA’s protégé, now we are bête noire. But, we must understand the USA’s current bogeys and Indian influence. USA’s motto is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. As, such, divergence of perceptions on some matters has stimulated USA to postpone multi-billion dollar deals signing in USA on July 6, 2018.

The points of difference are: (a) ‘secondary sanctions’ impeding India’s purchase of oil from Iran (its third largest supplier) and purchase of AS-400 air defence systems from Russia. (b) Trade tariffs, deficit, and visa regime. Impact of Trump’s ‘America First’ policy on India’s tariffs on American products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles 10 percent tariff on steel and aluminium imports US trade deficit with India. The US administration has revamped the H-1B visa programme and related visas for the Indians.

Pakistan should continue to address US concerns to change USA’s myopic lopsided attitude.

AEMEN MALIK

Karachi

Published in Daily Times, July 1^st 2018.