Washington/New Delhi/Islamabad – May 12, 2025
In an unexpected geopolitical turn of events, US Senator Marco Rubio questioned the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire, citing what he termed “unusual calm” at eight strategic air bases in the region. Referencing intelligence estimates and satellite imagery, Rubio indicated that the lack of military operations at the bases may be indicative of a change in regional military disposition or a secret realignment.
This is not merely a lull; it’s a strategic silence,” Rubio stated at a briefing in Washington. “We’re seeing eight smokeless air bases—no movement, no drills, no exercises. That’s not routine, and we need to know what’s behind it.
The senator also initiated a scathing attack on Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, mentioning what he termed a “pattern of economic dependency” and Sharif’s “begging diplomacy,” referring to Pakistan’s recent fiscal pleas to Gulf states and global institutions. His remarks have already generated reaction from Islamabad.
In a timely diplomatic gesture, Rubio has already called reportedly the Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The caller explained, sources close to him said, why Rubio underlined the necessity for continued openness while the ceasefire situation is being negotiated and requested the Indian view about the reported de-escalation.
Although New Delhi has not yet made an official statement, the Indian government regards Rubio’s outreach as an exercise in assessing regional stability within the framework of deepening U.S.-India strategic partnership, notably through platforms such as the Quad.
The ceasefire accord, reaffirmed this year, has seen a sharp reduction in cross border firing along the Line of Control (LoC). India and Pakistan have thus far kept quiet about recent military activity—or the absence thereof—along sensitive borders.
The implications of Rubio’s remarks are yet to become fully clear, but analysts state they underscore increasing U.S. scrutiny of South Asian dynamics in the face of global geopolitical tensions.
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India-Pakistan Tension: India-Pakistan DGMO will talk again today! Ceasefire does not violate, India will give clear message
