On August 5, 2025, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army posted a powerful reminder of America’s historical duplicity by sharing a newspaper clipping from 1971. The clipping, originally published on August 5 that year, laid bare the role of the United States in arming Pakistan during one of South Asia’s most brutal conflicts—the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The post, more than just a memory, served as a mirror to today’s global geopolitics and highlighted how “US arms worth $2 billion shipped to Pakistan since 1954” had far-reaching consequences for peace in the region.

This old article revealed the gravity of US involvement in South Asia’s bloodiest chapter, at a time when Pakistan had unleashed Operation Searchlight—a violent, state-sponsored crackdown on Bangladeshi freedom fighters. By August 1971, the genocide in East Pakistan was underway, with Pakistan’s military committing horrific atrocities against civilians. Yet, instead of condemning the brutality, the United States continued to ship weapons to Pakistan’s military.

As the Eastern Command highlighted, the issue had reached the Indian Parliament, where then Defence Production Minister V C Shukla informed the Rajya Sabha that all NATO powers and the Soviet Union had been contacted regarding arms supply to Pakistan. Shukla explained that by then, Pakistan had already launched armed aggression in Bangladesh and was using foreign-supplied weapons to crush the pro-liberation movement.

“The Soviet Union denied supplying arms to Pakistan and the French government even stated that they won’t even make deliveries against old orders by Pakistan. However, the US government had continued its supply of arms to Pakistan,” the newspaper clipping recorded. This chilling revelation underlined America’s choice to side with a genocidal regime.

“The USA and China have both been selling arms to Pakistan at throwaway prices,” Shukla had further stated, emphasizing that the genocide and Pakistan’s eventual war against India were carried out with foreign weapons, mainly from the US and China. In other words, the death and destruction of 1971 were powered by American generosity—generosity not for peace, but for Pakistan’s military ambitions.

This throwback post wasn’t accidental. It comes precisely a year after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh—a leader known for her pro-India stance. The current turmoil in Bangladesh, which includes a violent uprising led by Islamist radicals and foreign interference, can be traced back to these same seeds—when Washington decided that Pakistan deserved $2 billion in arms.

India’s Pushback: “Look Who’s Talking”

In the present day, the US continues to point fingers at India. America has repeatedly accused New Delhi of “funding the war in Ukraine” by importing discounted Russian oil. But India has hit back hard. As the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pointed out, the hypocrisy is glaring—“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by (the) global market situation,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

In contrast, the United States and the EU themselves have maintained economic ties with Russia, continuing to trade even while accusing others of the same. The Indian government went a step further, stating that “such trade is not even a vital compulsion” for Western countries, and yet they continue it while lecturing India. This was India’s way of saying: Stop preaching when you won’t practice.

US Hypocrisy on Full Display: Pakistan Gets a Free Pass

While the US threatens India with sanctions and higher duties, it continues to pamper Pakistan. In a clear example of this double standard, Trump slashed tariffs on Pakistani goods—from 29% to 19%—even as he hiked tariffs for countries like India. This wasn’t a policy decision driven by economics. It was a political reward.

Only weeks earlier, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen Asim Munir was treated to a private lunch at the White House—a rare gesture of intimacy for a country recently involved in skirmishes with India. As if that wasn’t enough, in July, Trump went on to call India a “dead economy” and simultaneously announced several trade deals with Pakistan. According to him, the future was with Pakistan—not its democratic, rising neighbor.

Trump also suggested that India might one day “buy oil from Pakistan,” sparking further tensions in the already fraying Indo-US relationship. In a mocking tone that revealed more than it concealed, the former president announced, “We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves... Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India some day!”

Netizens Speak the Truth

The Eastern Command’s post struck a chord with Indian citizens. Reactions on social media were swift and biting. “Best reply by Indian army to USA??it exposes American Hypocrisy,” wrote one user. Another commented, “Show the mirror to the bully!!! Gr8 going Eastern Command.” A third simply said, “Good reminder for Donald Trump.” These voices captured what many Indians have long felt—America has rarely been the friend it claims to be.

Trump may have tried to defend his tariff decisions by pointing to India’s high trade barriers and its arms trade with Russia. He said, “They have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country… Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia… and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China.” He then added a vague but threatening line—“All things not good!”

The contradiction couldn’t be clearer. The US, while calling India a “friend”, is punishing it with tariffs and insults. Meanwhile, Pakistan, which has been both a source and recipient of terrorism, gets a warm handshake and a discount.

Same Game, Different Century

More than 50 years have passed since the US helped Pakistan wage a war against India. Yet, the playbook hasn’t changed. Then it was arms, now it's oil deals and tariff breaks. Back then it was a genocide in East Pakistan; today it’s about cozying up to a military-dominated regime that still harbors extremist elements.

If anything, this historical throwback serves as a powerful reminder that India must walk its own path. Because when it comes to the United States, as the Eastern Command’s post shows, the friendliest smiles often hide the sharpest knives.