Former Australian PM Tony Abbott: India's Democratic Values Make It a Better US Ally Than Military-Run Pakistan

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has characterized Pakistan as a "military dictatorship" in stark contrast to India, which he described as a "liberal democracy." Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Abbott highlighted what he considers one of the United States' significant diplomatic missteps during the Cold War era.

Abbott asserted that America made a critical error by "consistently tilting towards Pakistan" during the Cold War period. He elaborated that for the past two decades, American policymakers have been making sensible efforts to correct this historical imbalance. While he acknowledged recent setbacks in this rebalancing process, Abbott expressed confidence that shared democratic values would ultimately strengthen India's relationships with democratic nations.

The former Australian leader emphasized that America's core interests are better served through a robust friendship with India rather than Pakistan. Similarly, he suggested that India's fundamental interests align more closely with fellow democracies than with authoritarian regimes.

Abbott delivered a pointed critique regarding Pakistan's counterterrorism cooperation with the United States, noting ironically that Pakistan "cooperated so closely with the US on terrorism that it gave Bin Laden a home for the best part of a decade." He clarified that while there are "good people in Pakistan," the nation remains "at heart a military society with a strong Islamist streak" - a stark contrast to India's democratic character.

While not advocating for the US to completely disengage from Pakistan, Abbott stressed the importance of recognizing more reliable partnerships. Drawing from his own experience as Prime Minister, he reflected on his approach to international relations: "I thought I would do my best to work constructively with everyone. But you've always got to know where your friends are. And your friends are the ones with whom there are common interests, common values, and a particular common history."