US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the United States and India have agreed to a trade deal that will reduce American tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. The announcement was made through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.

According to Trump, the decision was taken “out of friendship and respect” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and at the Indian leader’s request. He stated that the revised tariff would take effect immediately, with remaining formalities to be completed in the coming days.

Prime Minister Modi, in a post shortly after Trump’s announcement, thanked the US President for what he described as a significant step, expressing appreciation on behalf of India’s population.

Tariff reduction to be finalised soon

While neither government initially shared detailed terms of the agreement, the US ambassador to India later indicated that further clarity would follow. In an interaction with media, he confirmed that the overall tariff on Indian goods entering the US market would stand at 18 per cent once the deal is formally concluded.

He added that some procedural aspects are still pending, but the tariff rate itself has been agreed upon and is not expected to change.

Trump also claimed that India would move to reduce its own tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US goods to zero, though no official statement from the Indian side has detailed such measures so far.

Claim on Russian oil purchases

In his post, Trump further asserted that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead increase its energy purchases from the United States and potentially Venezuela. He linked this claim to broader geopolitical developments, stating that such a move would contribute to ending the war in Ukraine.

There has been no official confirmation from New Delhi regarding any commitment to halt Russian oil imports.

Timing linked to wider trade developments

The announcement comes soon after India concluded a major free trade agreement with the European Union following prolonged negotiations. That agreement provides India with expanded access to the EU market, particularly in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and is expected to support manufacturing, employment and MSMEs.

The tariff reduction by the US was also announced a day after India presented its annual budget, which included measures aimed at addressing challenges arising from higher US tariffs imposed earlier.

Background of stalled negotiations

Trade talks between India and the US had slowed in recent months after Washington imposed a steep tariff on Indian goods over continued energy purchases from Russia. Negotiations resumed following renewed engagement between the two sides, including high-level discussions between the two leaders.

Officials had earlier indicated that progress was being made toward a trade agreement, with cooperation expanding across areas such as technology, energy, defence and trade.

India has reiterated its refusal to recognise or participate in proceedings initiated by a Court of Arbitration in The Hague under the Indus Waters Treaty framework, asserting that the treaty itself remains in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack last year.

Despite the arbitration court moving ahead with fresh hearings and procedural orders, New Delhi has made it clear that it does not consider the panel legally constituted and will not respond to its communications.

India dismisses court orders as illegitimate

The latest development centres on an order issued by the Court of Arbitration directing India to submit operational pondage logbooks of the Baglihar and Kishanganga hydroelectric projects. The documents were sought as part of what the court described as the “second phase on the merits” of the dispute.

Hearings have been scheduled for February 2 and 3 at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The court has noted that India has neither filed counter submissions nor indicated its participation in the process.

However, government sources said the arbitration panel was “so-called and illegally constituted” and accused it of conducting parallel proceedings alongside the neutral expert mechanism prescribed under the treaty. According to the sources, India does not acknowledge the court’s authority and therefore does not engage with its directions.

They further stated that since the Indus Waters Treaty has been placed in abeyance, India is under no obligation to respond to such requests, describing the move as an attempt by Pakistan to draw New Delhi back into the process.

Treaty placed in abeyance after Pahalgam attack

India’s decision to suspend the treaty dates back to April 23, 2025, a day after a terror attack in Pahalgam claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The government formally placed the six-decade-old water-sharing agreement in abeyance, linking cooperation under the treaty to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.

The move marked a significant shift in policy, signalling that bilateral arrangements could not operate independently of security considerations.

Pakistan escalates international outreach

Since the decision, Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic and legal efforts, approaching international forums, sending delegations abroad and initiating multiple legal actions to challenge India’s stance.

The Indus river system remains critical for Pakistan’s economy, with a large share of its agriculture dependent on its waters. Limited storage capacity and stressed reservoirs have further heightened Islamabad’s concerns, turning what was once a technical dispute into a strategic issue.

Neutral expert versus arbitration court

Under the treaty’s dispute resolution mechanism, technical disagreements are to be examined by a neutral expert, while legal disputes may be referred to a Court of Arbitration. India has consistently maintained that the current issues fall within the technical domain and has accused Pakistan of forum shopping by activating arbitration proceedings.

The arbitration court has, however, proceeded with the case, stating that India’s position on suspending the treaty does not affect its competence. It has also warned that adverse inferences could be drawn if India fails to comply with its directions.

New Delhi rejects this interpretation and continues to recognise only the neutral expert process, viewing attempts to link the two mechanisms as illegitimate.

Strategic standoff continues

Officials believe the ongoing proceedings in The Hague, conducted without India’s participation, are unlikely to result in binding outcomes. Instead, they see the situation as part of a broader strategic contest, with India choosing disengagement and Pakistan seeking internationalisation of the dispute.

India has consistently maintained that treaties cannot function in isolation from ground realities and that cooperation will remain suspended until what it describes as persistent hostility is addressed.

A senior commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba has publicly acknowledged links with Hamas and confirmed meetings with its top leadership, triggering fresh concerns among security agencies about an emerging alliance between globally designated terrorist organisations.

In a recent video accessed by media, Faisal Nadeem, a senior figure associated with the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, widely regarded as Lashkar’s political front, said he met senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, in 2024. Nadeem operates in Pakistan’s Sindh province and claimed that Saifullah Kasuri, alleged by Indian agencies to be involved in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, accompanied him during the visit.

According to Nadeem’s statement, the delegation met senior Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, a disclosure that intelligence officials view as direct evidence of coordination between terror networks operating across South Asia and the Middle East. Security analysts say the admission points to a growing effort to share operational experience, logistics and propaganda strategies.

The confession follows earlier reports of a meeting between a senior Hamas commander and a Lashkar leader in Pakistan’s Gujranwala during a public event organised by the same political outfit. An undated video that surfaced recently showed both leaders sharing the stage, with officials noting that the public nature of the interaction reflected increasing confidence and deepening ties between the groups.

Investigators have pointed out that the Hamas representative attended the event as a chief guest, while the Lashkar leader appeared under the cover of a political role. Security officials have also flagged multiple visits by Hamas operatives to Pakistan since October 2023, indicating sustained engagement.

Counter-terrorism experts note that both Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba are designated terrorist organisations by the United States and several other countries. Any coordination between them, they warn, could have serious implications for regional and international security.

Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring developments related to the Hamas-Lashkar engagement. Officials said the emerging evidence may be raised at international platforms, including financial watchdogs and counter-terror forums, as authorities assess potential legal and diplomatic responses.

Analysts tracking the evolving situation say the growing trail of videos and public statements points to a broader ideological and operational alignment, marking a concerning shift in the global terror network landscape.