
22/07/2025
Double Game Diplomacy: The West’s Strategic Balancing Act in South Asia
While the world watches the Indo-Pacific with growing intensity, the United States, UK, and EU continue to play a high-stakes game of strategic ambiguity—arming both sides of the chessboard while preaching peace from the sidelines.
Apache for India, F-16 for Pakistan
India recently received the first batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing, part of a $600 million deal signed in 2020. These “flying tanks” are now stationed in Jodhpur, bolstering India’s western front capabilities. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s aging F-16 fleet, supplied by Lockheed Martin, continues to receive generous upgrades and sustainment packages from Washington—including a $397 million boost approved by President Trump earlier this year.
Same Suppliers, Opposite Sides
- Boeing: Apache helicopters for India
- Lockheed Martin: F-16 sustainment for Pakistan
- General Electric: F404 engines for India’s Tejas fighter jets
- Raytheon: AIM-120D missiles potentially for Pakistan’s F-16s
- Tata Boeing Aerospace: Apache components manufactured in Hyderabad
This isn’t just arms dealing—it’s strategic calibration. By keeping both India and Pakistan dependent on American military logistics, the US ensures leverage over two nuclear powers while subtly managing China’s influence in the region.
Double Standards in Action
When India retaliates against cross-border terrorism, the EU urges “restraint”. But when Ukraine defends itself against Russia, the West sends weapons, sanctions, and moral support. The hypocrisy is glaring:
- EU sanctions now target a Rosneft-linked refinery in Gujarat—while European nations continue importing Russian oil via third-party refiners.
- UK and EU remain silent on Pakistan’s terror infrastructure, yet vocally condemn similar actions elsewhere.
Strategic Hedging or Ethical Evasion?
This isn’t diplomacy—it’s a balancing act designed to keep South Asia perpetually simmering. By arming both India and Pakistan, and selectively applying moral outrage, the West maintains control without accountability.