Aditya Vaibhav | Team TrickyScribe: The US-India relations underwent significant shifts over the decades, shaped by global geopolitics, security concerns, and strategic interests. From the Cold War era hostility of President Richard Nixon to the strategic alignment under President Donald Trump, US-India ties have transformed dramatically.
The shift marks key turning points in the bilateral relations, including the 1971 East Pakistan crisis, India’s nuclear tests, counterterrorism cooperation, and the latest development—the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War: Nixon’s Tilt Towards Pakistan
During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger sided with Pakistan, largely due to Cold War dynamics. Pakistan was instrumental in facilitating the US opening to China, and Nixon viewed India’s support for East Pakistan’s independence as a move aligned with the Soviet Union.
Mounting reports of mass atrocities committed by the Pakistani military in East Pakistan notwithstanding, the US administration refused to condemn its ally.
Washington instead sent the USS Enterprise, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, into the Bay of Bengal to intimidate India as it moved militarily to support the Mukti Bahini forces. This aggressive stance soured US-India relations for years, pushing New Delhi closer to Moscow.
Pokhran Nuclear Tests and US Sanctions
India’s nuclear ambitions went contrary with Washington. In 1974, then prime minister Indira Gandhi ordered the first nuclear test, code-named Smiling Buddha, prompting US concerns over nuclear proliferation. The relationship hit another low in 1998 when then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee authorized a series of nuclear tests at Pokhran.
Under President Bill Clinton, the US responded with economic sanctions under the Glenn Amendment, suspending military cooperation and imposing trade restrictions. Strategic priorities, however, began to shift in the early 2000s, leading to a historic breakthrough—the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement under President George W. Bush in 2008. This agreement marked Washington’s recognition of India as a responsible nuclear power, effectively ending India’s nuclear isolation.
The 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks and US Counterterrorism Policy
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror outfits, led to significant scrutiny of US counterterrorism cooperation with India. While Indian authorities sought access to David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist who helped plan the attack, the US was initially reluctant to grant direct access, prioritizing intelligence-gathering agreements with him.
Another accused, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen, had evaded Indian prosecution for years due to legal and diplomatic roadblocks. Arrested by the FBI on October 27, 2009, Rana was chargesheeted by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SAARC Convention on Suppression of Terrorism. The US did not approve his extradition—until now.
Trump Approves Extradition of Tahawwur Rana
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has approved Rana’s extradition to India, calling him “one of the plotters and very evil people of the world.” This marks a major shift in Washington’s counterterrorism approach, signaling deeper cooperation with India on security matters.
Once extradited, Rana would be the third person to be tried in India for the 26/11 attacks, after Ajmal Kasab and Zabiuddin Ansari (Abu Jundal). Kasab, the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist from the attack, was executed in Yerawada Jail, Pune, in 2012.
Rana’s Travels in India Before the Mumbai Carnage
According to security agencies, Tahawwur Rana traveled to multiple Indian cities just days before the 26/11 attacks. Between November 13 and November 21, 2008, Rana and his wife Samraz Rana Akhtar visited:
• Hapur
• Delhi
• Agra
• Kochi
• Ahmedabad
• Mumbai
Rana had submitted documents from the Immigrant Law Center and a Cook County property tax payment notice as address proof. His visits to these locations, possibly linked to reconnaissance or logistical support for the attack, remain a critical area of investigation. Once he is extradited, Indian agencies are expected to probe the exact purpose of these travels and his role in the terror plot.
US-India Strategic Realignment Under Trump
Beyond counterterrorism, the Trump administration significantly strengthened US-India relations, particularly in defense and security. Under Trump, Washington deepened its commitment to the Quad alliance (India, US, Japan, and Australia) and took a tougher stance on Pakistan’s support for terrorism. In 2018, Trump cut off military aid to Pakistan, citing its failure to act against terror groups operating from its soil.
The Howdy Modi event in Houston (2019) and Trump’s visit to India in 2020 further cemented the growing US-India partnership giving professional interactions between heads of states of two most decisive democracies a personal touch. Trade disputes remained, but the broader strategic alignment—especially against China—became a key pillar of Trump’s foreign policy.
A Strengthening Yet Complex Partnership
From Nixon’s hostility during the Cold War to Trump’s approval of Rana’s extradition, US-India relations have evolved dramatically. While past tensions over nuclear policy and regional conflicts remain part of history, the increasing convergence on counterterrorism, defense, and geopolitics has strengthened bilateral ties.
With Rana’s impending extradition and continued US support on global security issues, the trajectory of US-India relations is expected to remain positive, despite occasional trade and diplomatic challenges. The move signals a new phase of cooperation, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to justice for the victims of 26/11 and stronger counterterrorism collaboration with India.
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