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WASHINGTON: Differences between the US and India cannot be resolved overnight to arrive at a trade deal, a senior US official told reporters late on Thursday, citing geopolitical disagreements.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Washington was still negotiating with India on trade after announcing earlier that day the US would impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from the country starting on Friday.

The 25 percent figure would single out India more severely than other major trading partners, and threaten to unravel months of talks between the two countries, undermining a strategic partner of Washington’s and a counterbalance to China.

“Our challenges with India, they’ve always been a pretty closed market... there are a host of other kind of geopolitical issues,” the US official said.

“You’ve seen the president express concern about, you know, membership in BRICS, purchases of Russian oil and that kind of thing.”

While saying there were constructive discussions with India, the official added: “These are complex relationships and complex issues, and so I don’t think things can be resolved overnight with India.”

India has faced pressure from the West, including the US, to distance itself from Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. New Delhi resisted that pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs.

Trump has cast the BRICS group of developing nations — of which India is a key part — as hostile to the US Those nations have dismissed that accusation and the group says it promotes the interests of its members and of developing countries at large.

Trump has also drawn India’s frustration by repeatedly taking credit for an India-Pakistan ceasefire that he announced on social media on May 10. The ceasefire halted days of hostilities between the nuclear armed Asian neighbors.

India’s position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their issues directly without outside involvement.
Trump has reached a trade deal with India’s rival Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said his government is working on a “comprehensive, effective and actionable strategy” to completely eliminate militant outfits in the country, state-run media reported, as Islamabad grapples with a rise in militant attacks in its western provinces. 

Pakistan has struggled to contain increasing militant attacks in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces in recent months, where it faces twin insurgencies launched by the Pakistani Taliban and separatist Baloch militant outfits.

Sharif chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Counterterrorism and Establishment of the State’s Writ (Harden the State) in Islamabad, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report. The meeting was attended by senior military and government officials, including Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik, the four provincial chief secretaries, police chiefs, senior ministers and officials.

“He [Sharif] said Pakistan is working on a comprehensive, effective, and actionable strategy for the complete elimination of anti-social elements including Fitna Al-Hindustan and Khawarij,” Radio Pakistan said. 

Pakistan’s military frequently uses “Fitna-al-Khawarij” for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and “Fitna-al-Hindustan,” to describe the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other separatist outfits. Islamabad accuses New Delhi of arming and funding militant groups in KP and Balochistan, a charge India denies. Pakistan also blames Afghanistan for providing sanctuaries to militants that it says launch attacks on Pakistani soil. Kabul has always denied the allegations. 

Sharif said Pakistan has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy in its war against “terrorism,” noting that ground operations, relevant legislation, meaningful public engagement, and discouragement of extremist ideologies have been effectively utilized by authorities.

“He directed the committee to ensure effective coordination between the federal and the provincial governments and strictly implement its recommendations,” the report added. 

The Pakistani prime minister highlighted that a peaceful and “terrorism-free strong state structure” is essential to restore investors’ confidence at the international level. Sharif said the government’s reforms, such as the digitization of several systems and improvement in the tax system, were restoring investors’ confidence. 

A day earlier, Pakistan’s army chief addressed participants at the 16th National Workshop Balochistan in Rawalpindi where he reiterated the military’s commitment to eliminating militancy. Munir had said during his speech that violent extremism must be countered, while calling for a unified national response.

Separatist groups in Balochistan have long accused the Pakistani state of exploiting the province’s vast natural resources, ranging from gas and coal to copper and gold, without equitably sharing the benefits with local communities. They claim successive governments have prioritized extraction over development, leaving the region impoverished despite its mineral wealth.

Pakistani authorities have, however, consistently rejected such accusations, maintaining that a significant number of development projects are underway to uplift Balochistan’s economy, improve infrastructure and expand access to education and health care.

In KP, the TTP has launched some of the deadliest attacks against law enforcers and civilians in its bid to impose its own version of Islam in the country.