-By LeN Diplomatic Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -07.Aug.2025, 11.00 PM) In the labyrinth of modern geopolitics, diplomacy is often forged in quiet corridors, not loud campaign rallies. But when Donald J. Trump re-entered the White House in January 2025, the old rules of engagement were tossed out. Once again, political theatre replaced protocol. And now, two of India's most seasoned and respected security architects—National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar—have become central actors in a geopolitical drama staged from the Oval Office.
Their crime? Telling a different story than the one the President of the United States prefers.
At the heart of the escalating row lies a controversial claim—repeated often and forcefully by President Trump—that he personally brokered a historic, behind-the-scenes peace agreement between India and Pakistan during his first presidency. It’s a narrative that plays well to his base and bolsters his image as a master dealmaker. But in public forums and international interviews, both Doval and Jaishankar have categorically denied the claim.
This denial has triggered a diplomatic storm.
Sources within Washington's power corridors confirm that the White House is now pressuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack both men, viewing them as obstacles to closer U.S.-India relations and too cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Washington insiders say the White House sees the pair’s defiance not merely as disagreement, but as an affront to the prestige of the U.S. presidency—and to Trump personally.
And so, a new diplomatic fault line has emerged: loyalty to Trump or independence in foreign policy.
The origins of the tension trace back to early 2020s, when border skirmishes and diplomatic breakdowns between India and Pakistan sparked fears of a nuclear confrontation. Trump has long maintained that through "personal diplomacy" with both Islamabad and New Delhi, he de-escalated the crisis and brought the two nations "back from the edge."
Speaking at a rally in Houston earlier this year, President Trump claimed:
"Nobody knows this, but I saved India and Pakistan. I made the call. I told them to stop. And they listened. They don’t give me credit, but that’s okay. I don’t need a Nobel Peace Prize. But I deserve one."
This comment was immediately fact-checked—and publicly rebutted—by both Indian officials. In a now widely-circulated interview with Der Spiegel, Jaishankar clarified:
"There was no foreign mediation. The de-escalation was achieved through direct channels between the Indian Army and the Pakistani military. Claims to the contrary are inaccurate."
Ajit Doval, in a closed-door policy roundtable in Delhi—later leaked to the press—was reportedly more blunt:
"We don’t need third-party peacemakers. Certainly not ones who treat diplomacy like a TV show."
Those statements, intended as reaffirmations of India’s strategic autonomy, have sparked fury inside Trump’s inner circle.
Aides to President Trump are now describing Jaishankar and Doval not as diplomats, but as “rogue elements” within the Indian government who are allegedly working against the interests of the Indo-U.S. partnership. Some have even gone further, suggesting that the pair is too sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin—a relationship which the Biden administration had quietly tolerated, but Trump sees as a betrayal.
“Doval and Jaishankar are Putin’s people inside India,” said one senior MAGA-aligned policy advisor, speaking anonymously. “They’re blocking Trump’s vision for a clean, loyal, India-first partnership.”
Another figure close to the Trump campaign described them as “serial discreditors” of Trump on the world stage, referencing multiple public appearances where both men contradicted or criticized U.S. foreign policy stances.
The White House, multiple sources confirm, has delivered an unofficial communiqué to South Block: either Doval and Jaishankar go, or India should prepare for economic retaliation.
Already, that retaliation appears to be taking shape.
In a move that stunned Indian exporters, the U.S. Trade Representative announced in July a preliminary decision to impose a 50% tariff on a range of Indian goods, including pharmaceuticals, electronics components, and certain automotive parts. Officially, the decision is being justified under anti-dumping rules and labor rights enforcement. Unofficially, it is seen as a blunt instrument of political pressure.
In Washington, several congressional aides have hinted that more punitive measures are being drafted if India doesn’t “adjust its personnel.”
“Trump sees this as a loyalty test,” said a former senior official at the National Security Council. “He doesn’t want an apology. He wants action. He wants scalps.”
Back in New Delhi, the pressure is creating visible fractures inside Prime Minister Modi’s administration. Both Doval and Jaishankar are not just bureaucrats—they are institutional heavyweights who shaped India’s post-2014 foreign and security policy.
Doval, a former intelligence chief, redefined India’s counter-terrorism doctrine and masterminded bold strategic initiatives, including the 2016 cross-border strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Jaishankar, a career diplomat turned politician, helped India pivot from non-alignment to a multi-aligned world power.
Modi’s trust in them is deep. But so is his interest in maintaining favorable trade and defense ties with Washington.
“There’s growing concern in the PMO,” says a senior BJP insider. “Can Modi afford to sacrifice his two most capable strategists? Or will keeping them on jeopardize the larger national interest?”
The debate has reached India’s Parliament, where opposition leaders are accusing Modi of capitulating to Trump’s whims. Meanwhile, RSS-affiliated think tanks are urging restraint, fearing that removing Jaishankar and Doval could signal weakness to both Pakistan and China.
Though no formal decisions have been made, insiders say Modi’s advisers are quietly drawing up potential replacements.
For Foreign Minister, names floated include:
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Foreign Secretary and currently head of India’s Think20 initiative.
Pavan Kapoor, India’s Ambassador to Russia, seen as a potential “compromise candidate” with the right geopolitical leanings.
For National Security Advisor:
Vikram Misri, Deputy NSA, known for his quiet diplomacy and neutrality in Washington-Moscow dynamics.
Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pant (Retd.), India’s Cyber Security Chief, representing a more technocratic choice.
But these decisions are fraught with political consequences—domestically and internationally.
Much of the tension also stems from Doval and Jaishankar’s stance on Russia.
Even after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, both have refused to publicly condemn Moscow, instead emphasizing India's legacy relationship with Russia and its importance for defense procurement. This, combined with their willingness to purchase Russian oil and their reluctance to align with Western sanctions, has drawn ire in the U.S.
Yet, for India, it's not just ideology—it’s geography and strategy. “We live in a tough neighborhood,” Jaishankar once said. “We can’t afford the luxury of binary choices.”
That nuance, however, doesn’t sit well in a White House governed by loyalty metrics.
Some within Modi’s camp believe the crisis may be defused without actual dismissals. A “reset” strategy—perhaps through a symbolic reshuffle or a backchannel gesture of goodwill—could be explored.
Others warn that Trump is unlikely to be satisfied with symbolism. “This is personal for him,” says a former U.S. diplomat. “He wants a win. A visible one.”
Meanwhile, the diplomatic corps in both nations remains on high alert. Analysts worry that if the standoff continues, it could derail broader cooperation in defense, climate, and trade. The QUAD alliance—already weakened by Australia’s recent pivot—could suffer a fatal fracture if India is forced into a corner.
The coming weeks may determine the fate of India’s global posture. Will New Delhi bow to the pressure of a transactional U.S. presidency? Or will it assert its diplomatic sovereignty, even at the cost of short-term pain?
Ajit Doval and Dr. S. Jaishankar may soon exit the stage—or they may emerge vindicated. But the real story unfolding is larger than any two individuals. It is a test of India’s ability to chart its own path in an increasingly polarized world—one where allies demand loyalty, not partnership.
And in that world, even seasoned statesmen may find themselves under the White House spell—willingly or not.
-By LeN Diplomatic Correspondent
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by (2025-08-07 19:19:33)
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