Army Shares 1971 News Clip on U.S. Arms Aid to Pakistan Amid Tariff Row

Quick Summary

• On August 5,2025,the eastern Command of the Indian Army shared a newspaper clipping from August 5,1971. It highlighted U.S. military support to Pakistan since their arms pact in 1954, amounting to $2 billion at concessional prices.
• The social media post marked the anniversary of events preceding the India-Pakistan war of December 1971 that led to Bangladesh’s independence.
• V.C. Shukla, former indian Minister for Defence Production, had noted that both China and the U.S. supplied arms to Pakistan at “throw-away prices.”
• The post coincides with recent trade tensions between India and the United states: President Donald Trump announced higher tariffs on Indian goods due to Russian oil imports while signing a trade deal with Pakistan focused on oil development.
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs denounced these tariff hikes as “unjustified and unreasonable,” citing earlier U.S. encouragement of Russian oil imports during global energy disruptions caused by conflict in Ukraine.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The reposting of historical U.S.-Pakistan arms deals by India’s Eastern Command underscores long-held concerns about external powers’ influence on South Asia’s security dynamics-a notable subtext amid ongoing trade disputes between New Delhi and Washington today. Historical reminders such as these highlight strategic complexities that still impact bilateral ties; India’s retaliation against Trump’s tariffs demonstrates growing resistance rather than acquiescence under economic pressure.Simultaneously, Trump’s partnership with Pakistan signals shifts in regional alignments fueled by resource interests-indicating potential new geopolitical friction points for India as it balances its strategic autonomy with contested relationships globally.

Read More: Link