Bangladesh, Sept. 26 -- For weeks, the worlds two largest democracies were not speaking to each other. Washington and New Delhi – once seen as partners at the forefront of a democratic technology alliance – slipped into silence, suspicion, and near estrangement. Now, the phones are ringing again. Leaders in both capitals are picking up the line, signaling that they are not ready to allow the US-India partnership to collapse entirely. But resuming calls is not the same as rebuilding confidence.

At the heart of this crisis is the collapse of TRUST – the Technology and Research United States – India Strategic Trade initiative. Once heralded as the crown jewel of bilateral ties, TRUST has withered at precisely the mom...