[saiya-jin]

seriously, WTF is wrong with US and their attitude towards India/Pakistan. India is democracy, never attacked anybody out of blue from 1947 when it was created (unlike its neighbors Pakistan and China who attacked it numerous times).

Yet US sides with dictatorship which doesn't even control its own secret service which creates its own terrorist organizations (laskar-e-taeba).

[rwallace]

It's a political philosophy sometimes called 'realpolitik' that basically says never mind morality, just do what is in the interests of your own country. It has a certain emotional appeal, but when you take a cold and practical look at the history of decisions made on that basis, they tend to end up doing more harm than good to the interests of the country that made them, quite apart from everyone else.

[angry_octet]

India was part of the 'non-aligned' block and at various times has been keen on building ties with the Russians, buying lots of arms from them. In contrast, Pakistani leaders have been firmly in the US camp. Hence, in '71 it was a no-brainer for Nixon which side the US would support. It is bizarre the Nixon continued supporting Pakistan during the Bangladesh Genocide, but that's Nixon for you.

Also, India did invade and annex Goa in '62.

[swatkat]

>> Also, India did invade and annex Goa in '62.

... because Goa is an historically Indian territory, and Republic of India just got it back from foreign invaders!?

[cm2187]

Not just dictatorships. Islamist dictatorships (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia). A lot of western (not just US) diplomacy is horribly short sighted.

[JumpCrisscross]

> never attacked anybody out of blue from 1947 when it was created

India "attacked" East Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War [1]. Whether or not you or I feel it was justified is besides the point: it violated the sovereignty of another nation (similar to the U.S. in Iraq and Russia in Crimea).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bangladesh_Libera...

[tim333]

Your linked article reads

"India joined the war on 3 December 1971, after Pakistan launched preemptive air strikes on North India."

which doesn't sound out of the blue to me.

[tim333]

I think they're worried the Pakistani islamists will give nukes to the international jihadi islamists if we aren't somewhat supportive.

[rahrahrah]

You must be new here. It's not about democracy, it's what's more convenient for the US interests. Welcome to HN.