More and more people are criticizing US President Donald Trump after the US attacked the Pahalgam terror attack in India through the Quad alliance, but kept doing business and negotiating with Pakistan. A joint statement from QUAD members called for action against the attackers of the April 22 attack that killed 26 people. However, Trump’s lunch meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Washington, D.C., has led to accusations of hypocrisy.
QUAD calls for “financiers” & “perpetrators” of the “cross border terror” Pahalgam attack to be punished.
BUT…U.S is one of the signatories and it felicitated the “perpetrator” Munir and facilitated the IMF ($1bn), WB($40bn) loan to Pak.
Even Hypocrisy has its limits!!! pic.twitter.com/HwHIkm9Hiq
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) July 2, 2025
Signals that don’t match up from the US
The US signed a QUAD statement condemning terrorism and calling for accountability, but Trump hosted General Munir for a formal lunch, sending mixed messages. Some people say that this action hurts India’s fight against terrorism that crosses borders, especially since Pakistan is said to have given safe haven to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba in the past.
The fact that Washington gives money to Pakistan adds to the controversy. With Trump’s help, Pakistan was able to get a loan from the IMF for more than $1 billion. Other global financial institutions are also said to have promised close to $40 billion. At the same time this is happening, India is calling for tougher punishments against Pakistan for hiding terrorist groups.
Backlash from politicians and “double standards”
Political watchers and Indian commentators have said harsh things about Trump’s plans. In a tweet, senior writer Rahul Shivshankar said, “Even hypocrisy has its limits!”
A lot of people in India think that Washington can’t say one thing about terrorism and another thing about regimes that are thought to back terrorism.
Diplomacy or Double Speak?
Trump supporters say that a strategic relationship with Pakistan is needed to keep South Asia stable and keep China’s power in check. But the hostility of having Pakistan’s army chief there right after a deadly terror attack in India is seen as very disrespectful.
Many people think that the US’s position shows a problem that has been around for a long time in international relations: economic and security concerns often take precedence over moral positions.
India is trying to get justice for the people who died in the Pahalgam attack. At the same time, Trump’s efforts to reach out to Pakistan and the money that the US gave to Pakistan show how serious the US is about fighting terrorism. The double talk isn’t just about politics; it’s also about people who lost loved ones to crime.
