On the occasion of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's current US visit, certain specific aspects related to mutual relations between the countries come to fore. During US President Barack Obama's recent China visit also, a controversy had arisen. In the joint statement of Obama and the Chinese leadership, China's role in the South Asian region was evaluated. It was also said that China could play a vital role in improving bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. India had taken serious exception to this statement.
Significant Aspect
The joint statement was issued at a time when the Indian prime minister's US visit was on the cards. The second significant aspect relates to US-Pakistan relationship. Right from the days of the Bush Administration, the United States has been extending huge economic support to Pakistan until now, even as this can be termed a US compulsion because the United States needs Pakistan's cooperation in the war on terror in Afghanistan. Even today, a large number of Taliban elements are active on Pakistani soil where they are fighting against Pakistani troops. The United States is also extending support to Pakistan in this fight. While the US support to Pakistan is understandable, it cannot be denied that Pakistan has misused this support against India. Pakistan has never denied this fact. It has been fully bolstering armed terrorists on its territory to carry out acts of terrorism in India.
During the US Presidential elections, Obama had made certain comments on international affairs, over which a ruckus was triggered in India. There is no denying that during the George Bush's tenure also, the United States had certain compulsions of administrative nature. Yet, Bush left no doubts regarding US-India friendship. We perceive it as an initiative taken by the Bush Administration that it signed the civil nuclear agreement with India, the criticism from various quarters withstanding.
It is to be hoped that Dr. Singh would succeed in removing the fears that have, of late, developed about India's relations with the United States. He should drive home the point to Obama that the United States can ill-afford to overlook India's significance as compared to other nations in international affairs. Given the challenges in countering terrorism on the global forum, the United States also needs special relationship with India. Doubtless, special US-India relations can prove helpful in the atmosphere prevalent in the world today.
High Expectations
Prime Minister Dr. Singh is meeting President Obama at a time when his visit is not as ambitious as it is being made out to be. It is but natural for a meeting between the topmost leaders of two great democratic countries to be significant, but the recent chill in mutual relations between India and the United States has taken away the element of high expectations from this important meeting. The responsibility of the success of this meeting now lies on the shoulders of President Obama and not on Dr. Singh. Obama is the one who is responsible for bringing this chill in India-US relations.
Obama did give indication of the waning US influence by handing over the policing of Asia to China, but he also made a mistake of underestimating India's capability. If India claims to be a leader in Asia, it is not hollow. Nobody can now deny that in the coming decade, we would be a military and economic superpower. Although Obama said many things to please China, provoking China to intervene in India-Pakistan relations is like making a thief a policeman.
The United States has also complicated the Pakistan issue for its own immediate interests. US officials said recently that the Pakistani intelligence agency has provided shelter to Taliban chief Mullah Omar in Karachi. Hillary Clinton had earlier said that Pakistani officials know where Osama Bin Laden is. Despite knowing so much about it, what is the wisdom in giving aid worth billions to that country? It is clear that Obama would have to work hard to gain India's confidence in US policies.
Eliminating Terrorism
It is also necessary for India and the United States to be together to deal with the three biggest problems facing the world today--terrorism, economic crisis, and climate change. Obama has already scored one point by hosting the first State dinner in Dr. Singh's honor in the White House, during his regime. He does magic with words and could score many more points during these talks. He would have to be careful that if there were no immediate improvement in India-US relations, it would be a defeat for both. US diplomats and several advisors of Obama are well aware of Dr. Singh's firmness behind his polite personality. This visit does not have the cover of ambition because the prime minister himself wanted to take stock of the words and actions of the Obama administration.
No comments:
Post a Comment