The signing of military logistics pact by India and America to give access to each others defence facilities like land, air and naval bases would force Pakistan to reassess the possible ramifications of such an agreement in the region. The agreement signed by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar is seen as part of efforts by the two countries to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China, especially in the South China Sea. Although there was no official reaction yet from Pakistan, officials privately admitted that the Indo-US agreement could alter the strategic balance in the already volatile region. Officials said the concerned authorities were looking into the details of the agreement and its possible negative fallout on interests as well as national security. The development comes at a time when relations between Pakistan and India are strained by the ongoing violence in Kashmir. It also coincides with a period in which Islamabad is increasingly concerned over a series of recent decisions by Washington to block military assistance as well as funds to purchase of F-16 fighter jets. Last week senior US officials travelled to Islamabad to address Pakistan’s concerns over the defence pact. The agreement would irk China and Pakistan, who are currently working on $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project that apparently upsets both Washington and New Delhi. Due to its non-alignment policy, India has been given attention from all the major powers such as the US, Japan, China and Russia in recent years. Now is arguably a time when India has the most room for strategic manoeuvring. The agreement, a relatively mundane one concerning day-to-day military logistics, is considered a milestone in the US-India defence relationship because of the outsised political importance it had taken on in India. It doesn’t have anything to do with the setting up of base. It’s basically logistics support to each other’s fleet, like supply of fuel, supply of many other things which are required for joint operations, humanitarian assistance and many other relief operations and there should be no reason for alarm for the neighbours.
