‘US Arms Worth $2 Bn Sent to Pakistan’: Indian Army’s Throwback Post Amid Trump Remarks
The Indian Army’s Eastern Command has shared an old newspaper article from 1971, criticising the US for its continued arms support to Pakistan. This comes at a time when tensions between India and the US are rising.
In the backdrop of increasing India-US trade tensions and former US President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding India’s ties with Russia, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on Tuesday posted a throwback update on X, highlighting America’s historical military aid to Pakistan.
The Army shared a newspaper clipping dated August 5, 1971, with the caption: “This Day That Year – Build-Up to War – 05 Aug 1971” and added the hashtag #KnowFacts.
The headline, written in bold capital letters, stated: “US ARMS WORTH $2 BILLION SHIPPED TO PAKISTAN SINCE ’54”.
Indian Army’s Post on US-Pakistan Defence Ties
The shared article reported on discussions in the Rajya Sabha back in 1971, just months before India went to war with Pakistan, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh.
India-US Strain & America’s Relations with Islamabad
This post targeting Washington comes weeks after Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir was hosted by the White House and held a meeting with Donald Trump, who has shown a renewed closeness towards Islamabad in his second presidential term.
In July, Pakistan also conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) — one of its highest state honours — on US Central Command (USCENTCOM) chief General Michael Kurilla, a move seen as reaffirming its alliance with the US amid global scrutiny from FATF.
This old newspaper clipping was posted just days after Donald Trump announced a fresh trade agreement with Pakistan while imposing 25% tariffs on Indian exports and warning of a “penalty” against India for its ongoing oil purchases from Russia.
On Monday, Trump claimed he would “significantly” hike tariffs on Indian goods entering the US.
“India is not only purchasing vast quantities of Russian Oil, but also reselling much of it on the global market for major profits. They don’t care about how many Ukrainians are dying due to Russia’s military actions. Therefore, I will be considerably increasing the tariff on Indian imports into the USA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
MEA Hits Back at Trump’s Oil Remarks
Soon after Trump’s remarks, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong rebuttal, describing the US tariff move as “unwarranted and unreasonable”.
India also criticised what it called the US and EU’s double standards, pointing out that the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear energy sector.
The MEA clarified that India’s crude imports from Russia are “a necessity driven by global market realities”.
“India will adopt all required measures to safeguard its national interest and economic stability,” the ministry said.
