Tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan, which have been exacerbated by the U.S. killing of Osama bin Laden in May and recent suicide attacks on U.S. targets in Afghanistan, have been looked upon with much?anticipation in New Delhi.

Afgan soldiers stand guard in Kabul, where a Sept. 13 suicide attack left 12 dead and 21 injured, including 4 embassy workers. The U.S. has accused Pakistan spy agencies of supporting the attack. U.S.-Pakistan relations have soured since U.S. forces killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a raid on his Abbottabad, Pakistan compound on May 2.?[Ahmad Massoud/Xinhua]

Recently, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and a number of congressmen accused Pakistan of facilitating terrorist attacks in Afganistan. Last week, Mullen and other U.S. officials accused a Pakistani spy agency of collaborating in a Sept. 13 suicide bombing in Kabul which injured four U.S. embassy workers, and left 12 others dead and 21 injured.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, Pakistan has played a vital role in U.S.'s anti-terrorist campaign and made great contributions to the War on Terror. As an ally, Pakistan also received economic support from the U.S. India, wary of its own internal political conflicts, was reluctant to offer that level of assistance in the fight.

Worrying that it might lose favor with America, India had been preoccupied about the U.S.'s growing friendship its archrival Pakistan. India was understandably worried that stronger U.S.-Pakistan ties could cause it to lose ground in the Kashmir region. To date, India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the long-disputed land, known for its famed wool-producing goats.

Now, it seems India's rising influence and strained Pakistan-U.S. ties have tipped the scales in favor of India. India hopes that the Pakistan-U.S. tensions will help contain Pakistan.

India is glad to see Pakistan in trouble. Pakistan will lose U.S. support in many areas, especially economic aid. The lack of U.S. assistance will surely put Pakistan at a disadvantageous position in its dealings with India. The shift in allegiances seems to be the turning point New Delhi has been looking for.

(This article was first published in Chinese and translated by Zhang Ming'ai.)

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