S. Jaishankar Takes Dig at US-Pakistan Ties, Recalls Osama bin Laden's Capture in Abbottabad

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took a pointed swipe at the relationship between the United States and Pakistan on Saturday, suggesting that both nations have a tendency to "overlook their history" with each other. Speaking at, The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar referenced the U.S. Navy SEAL raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

“They (the US and Pakistan) have a history with each other, and they have a history of overlooking that history,” Jaishankar remarked. “It’s the same military that went into Abbottabad and found who there?”

He also reiterated India's long-standing position on third-party involvement in its ties with Pakistan. “On the issue of mediation, since the 1970s, for over 50 years now, there has been a national consensus in India — we do not accept any third-party mediation in our relationship with Pakistan,” Jaishankar said.

On the India-US front, Jaishankar struck a more measured tone, acknowledging that while there had been tensions in the past — particularly over trade tariffs under the Trump administration — communication between the two countries has remained open. “We are two big countries. The lines are not cut. People are talking to each other, and we’ll see where it goes,” he said.

Jaishankar’s comments come at a time when Pakistan and the US appear to be resetting their relationship after years of strain. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited the US for the second time, engaging in high-level discussions with American political and military leaders.

The two countries have also resolved trade disputes, with Washington agreeing to impose a 19% tariff on Pakistani goods, down from earlier figures. Additionally, both sides recently held a counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad, pledging deeper cooperation to combat militant groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is ramping up its lobbying efforts in Washington. According to filings reviewed by *Hindustan Times* with the US Department of Justice, Pakistan is currently outspending India by a ratio of 3 to 1 on lobbying and strategic communications in the US capital. The country reportedly spends around \$600,000 per month to improve its influence in the White House, Congress, and other key institutions, despite its ongoing economic challenges. It has hired six lobbying and legal firms to boost its outreach in Washington.