Jaishankar Reminds US Of Bin Laden Episode Amid Talk Of US-Pakistan Realignment
Bin Laden in Abbottabad: Jaishankar’s sharp reminder to Washington on Pakistan ties. (image courtesy GPT-5)
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reignited debate on the complexities of US-Pakistan ties, reminding Washington of its own “history of overlooking history” in dealing with Islamabad.
Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum on August 24, Jaishankar referred to the 2011 killing of Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, near Pakistan’s capital, as an enduring reminder of Islamabad’s double role in global security affairs.
Responding to a question on the US-Pakistan realignment under former President Donald Trump, Jaishankar said, “They have a history with each other. And they have a history of overlooking that history.”
He noted that the same Pakistani military once seen as a US partner was also sheltering Bin Laden, until the American Navy SEALs executed the covert operation without informing Islamabad.
His remarks come weeks after Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir was hosted by Trump at the White House, signaling renewed military-to-military engagement between the two countries. Analysts see this as a potential tactical move by Washington, given Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan and its influence in West Asia.
Jaishankar, however, contrasted this with the “structural strengths” of India-US ties. Highlighting growing confidence in New Delhi’s partnership with Washington, he emphasised that India evaluates challenges in the larger context of its strategic importance. “I know what I am about. I know what my strengths are,” he said, pointing to the resilience of the bilateral relationship.
On Trump’s repeated claims of mediating in past India-Pakistan conflicts, Jaishankar firmly clarified that de-escalation followed direct negotiations between New Delhi and Islamabad. While acknowledging that the US and other countries made calls during the crisis, he underscored that resolution came only through India-Pakistan talks.
Jaishankar’s remarks underline India’s skepticism of Washington-Islamabad rapprochement while reaffirming New Delhi’s confidence in its own ties with the US. By invoking Abbottabad, he reminded policymakers of Pakistan’s chequered record, suggesting that any US tilt toward Islamabad is likely to be tactical rather than strategic.
At the same time, India is positioning itself as a reliable partner rooted in long-term convergence with the US.
