As tensions rise between the US and India following Donald Trump’s latest threats to hike tariffs, the Indian Army has posted a pointed reminder of America's decades-long support for Pakistan. On Tuesday, the Army’s Eastern Command shared an old newspaper clipping from August 5, 1971, highlighting how the US had been arming Pakistan in the lead-up to the 1971 war.

The post, captioned “This day, that year — build-up of war, August 5, 1971”*, featured a bold headline: “US Arms Worth -$2 Billion Shipped to Pakistan Since ’54.”

The article referred to discussions in the Rajya Sabha at the time, where then-defence production minister V.C. Shukla informed the House that India had reached out to NATO powers and the Soviet Union about the arms supply to Pakistan. While France and the USSR denied supplying weapons, the US continued its support. The report also stated that both the US and China had sold arms to Pakistan at “throwaway prices,” suggesting that Pakistan may have used those very weapons during the war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

The Army’s post came just a day after Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate and former US President, lashed out at India over its oil trade with Russia. In a social media post, Trump accused India of profiting from discounted Russian oil and warned that if he returns to office, his administration would "substantially raise tariffs" on Indian goods.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then selling much of it on the open market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” he wrote.

India responded sharply, calling the criticism by the US and European Union “unjustified and unreasonable.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the targeting of India was hypocritical, especially as both the US and EU continue significant trade with Russia.

The MEA pointed out that Europe continues to import not just energy but also fertilizers, chemicals, steel, and machinery from Russia. The US, meanwhile, still imports uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear power sector, palladium for electric vehicles, as well as chemicals and fertilizers.

“Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the MEA said in a late-evening statement.

It also noted that India began increasing oil imports from Russia only after Europe diverted global supplies following the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

“At the time, the US even encouraged such imports to support global energy market stability,” the MEA said. It emphasized that India’s Russian oil imports are essential to keep domestic energy costs affordable and ensure economic stability.

“The same nations criticizing India are themselves continuing trade with Russia. India, like any major economy, will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement concluded.