With friends like these.
The United States is no stranger to double standards. Throughout its history, Washington has dictated policies through a lens of strategic convenience rather than any commitment to universal principles. Imposing sanctions on entities linked with Pakistan’s ballistic missiles program is the latest glaring example, made starker by ongoing support for similar programs in India and Israel.
Defending the decision, Joe Biden’s Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer accused Islamabad of developing weaponry that could “eventually” strike the U.S. Islamabad’s Shaheen missiles have a range of 2,750km; the distance to the U.S. is 12,304km. By contrast, India’s Agni missiles have a range of 16,000km, with India just 1,000km further from the U.S. than Pakistan. No prizes for guessing which country poses a more plausible threat or is building missiles to counter a hostile neighbor.
The double standards don’t stop at South Asia. Israel has enjoyed decades of U.S. military support, with billions funneled annually into its defense industry. Washington tolerates Tel Aviv’s policy of “nuclear ambiguity,” tacitly supporting its strategic deterrence. There is no attempt to push Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty—an allowance denied to Pakistan, which was forced to trot out its chief nuclear scientist as evidence of its distancing from proliferation.
U.S. lawmakers defend concessions for India as critical for regional deterrence. Pakistan gets no similar considerations, instead facing condemnation, sanctions, and isolation. The U.S. accuses Islamabad of nuclear proliferation and enabling instability, while Pakistan’s programs counterbalance India’s growing military power. Unlike Israel and India, the U.S. demands Pakistan meet stringent standards while denying it advanced defense technologies.
This hypocrisy is as old as U.S. foreign policy itself. The U.S. ignored India’s 1974 nuclear test for decades, allowing its military build-up. Pakistan’s 1998 tests brought immediate sanctions. Similarly, Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal faces little pressure from Washington, while Pakistan struggles against isolation for its modest program.
The crux is Washington’s prioritization of geopolitical alliances. Israel anchors the U.S. in the Middle East, while India counters China in the Indo-Pacific. Pakistan, with ties to China and perceived instability, is “expendable.”
This favoritism undermines U.S. credibility. By enabling Israel and India while penalizing Pakistan, Washington exacerbates regional insecurities, fuels arms races, and weakens its purported moral authority. A consistent, equitable approach to nonproliferation is essential for global security and restoring faith in the U.S. as a principled leader.
The chasm between Washington’s rhetoric and reason is a longstanding global grievance. Until this is reconciled, the U.S. has no right to ask why it is viewed with deep suspicion—and even hatred.