Hillary Clinton Visits India

It is said that the notion continues to prevail among common people in Indian that the US is a selfish country that can go to any extent to maintain its global "supremacy." It can launch an invasion against any country and it can resort to bloodshed of innocents in order to retain its hold over the world. Hence, expansion of democracy and ideology carries no significance for it.

However, there is another belief that is prevalent among the Indians that the US can do anything to grind its axe. Any country not yielding to it aligns it with itself. It makes the unyielding country yielding to it and breaks up that country that can be severed. It is recognized as a supporter of countries such as Pakistan, which fall victim to the military dictators and can adopt any tactics in order to nip the menace in the bud that can pose a threat to it.

Impact of Tension between India and Pakistan
In fact, the notion prevalent among common Indians about the US is based on their experiences during the past half-a-century. India and Pakistan in the South Asian region have never been friendly to each other. The two nations in their bid to amass maximum arms served as a sandwich between the US and other big world powers. Amid sale and purchase of arms, conflicts and confrontations among them, and lack of mutual trust, and attempts to occupy Kashmir, these countries provided highly suitable chances to world powers to intervene in their internal affairs.

The US used Pakistan in the ouster of the Russian troops from Afghanistan, and when the Taliban whom it used for the expulsion of the Russian forces from Afghanistan and later on for staging a coup there, turned hostile toward it, it sought Pakistan's support to crush them. However, this time around success evaded the US. Its main reason is that Pakistan is no longer solely dependent on the US and has gone under the influence of China.

Emerging India's Status
Meanwhile, India is an emerging superpower because its image is constantly emerging as a peace loving and a dynamic country. In view of its rising image and prestige, the US also has molded its policies in favor of India. The US is scared of the mounting Chinese influence in the South Asian region and is exploring the support of India with a view to check growing influence of China. Although the proximity of the US with India in defense and trade is in India's interest, yet the latter needs to be wary of the possibility of becoming a puppet in US hands, although it can become its good ally in trade.

Developing Indo-US Relations
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is currently on a visit to India. Her trip to India is to certainly broaden and deepen the US relationship with India. During her visit, several agreements are to be signed and the plans would be evolved for the implementation of the US-India civilian nuclear agreement. She arrived in India as a Secretary of State of the Barack Obama Administration, but the Indian experience of the Bill Clinton Administration has been bitter, although time has undergone a sea change now.

Hillary expressed doubts about Pakistan’s commitment to the war on terror. Urging Pakistan to root out terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hillary said that based on the last six months, there has been a greater effort and commitment on Pakistan’s part to tackle the global threat of terrorism. However, it is too early to tell the outcome of the commitment from Pakistan.

Hillary has said the disputes between India and Pakistan should be looked at with "fresh eyes" and that Kashmir should "certainly" be on the agenda of discussions between the two countries. She said that the meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in Sharm el-Sheikh on July 16, 2009 has ignited the hope that both countries will pursue a dialogue again.

On the Kashmir issue, she affirmed the position of the US that it wants India and Pakistan to resolve all such issues bilaterally and that Washington is ready to support the steps that both countries take together.

India is fast emerging as a dynamic country on the world map. Hence, there is the possibility of it being exploited by the US for its vested interests. India welcomes the friendship offered by the US. However, it has been India's independent foreign policy not to accept narrow strategies of the US.