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One correction:

India is NOT AN ALLY. Although they should be, being the world's largest democracy and all, they actually have a lower ranking on when it comes to who's a bigger friend. Pakistan has MAjor non-NATO ally (MNNA) status while India does not.

The base for the now former ruling party, the BJP, is made up of strongly anti-Western Hindu Nationalists who prefer to practice an economic system along the lines of Nazi "autarky" or North Korean "Juche", both preaching an economic system of self-reliance. There are libertarian BJP members who were responsible for the nation's blistering economic growth over the past 6 years, but they don't hold as much influence.

The base for the current ruling coalition, ran by the Congress Party (who have ran the country for 50 out of the nation's 57-year history), is a hodgepodge of left-wing groups including outright communists in the state of Bengal. They aligned themselves with the Soviets during the Cold War (thanks to Nehru the Socialist Jackass) and maintain strong ties with the current Russian Regime. In fact, the only reason we are close with the Pakistanis is because we built up ties during t he Cold War due to India's preference for the USSR. They also have their libertarians, such as the current Prime Minister (Singh), but he too is trumped by the protectionist, socialist base.

So India being an ally is a misnomer.

Well, RS you may very well be correct although the India has been referred to as an "ally" of the US. This is according to the US State Dept. It may be a misnomer. As I recall a State Department official was taken to task by a reporter for having referred to another non-ally as such. I will look into this further. Thanks for the information.

You are correct; India is not an ally.

The State Department has a good paper on the state of U.S.-India relations , which have warmed recently. However, India was on the wrong of the Cold War as an ally of Russia, and relations have not reached the alliance stage.

And who knows? They actually held a joint naval exercise with China in November. If it comes to a shooting war between the U.S. and China, I wonder where India will stand. My guess is that realpolitik will put them neutral or openly in China's camp.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is indeed to be declared "major non-NATO ally" sometime Real Soon Now.