US Call For India's Initiative To Improve Ties With Pakistan

The Jihadists (crusaders) who were sponsored by the United States to fight and defeat the Soviet Union in the mountainous Hindu Kush state of Afghanistan are today themselves threatening the United States as its enemies. The devastation caused by terrorists under the patronage of Osama Bin Laden, once a major ally of the United States, through the 9/11 attack has proved an unforgettable tragedy for it until today.

Gates' India Visit
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates' recent India visit should be viewed in the context of this stark reality. No one can disagree with his observation that if Pakistan and terrorists active under its patronage launched another Mumbai-like attack, then India can feel compelled to carry out a military operation in retaliation. He has also categorically stated that in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack India exercised great restraint. All Indians on that occasion were extremely estranged and demanded the government to take a retaliatory action.
In addition to the United States, Pakistani rulers themselves had to admit that the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai were trained by the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and sent to India under a well-concerted plan. Now, the United States itself has arrested its national David Headley and Canadian citizen, Tahhwar Husayn, both linked to the Mumbai episode.
CBI Charge Sheet
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has framed a charge against both of them wherein they have been clearly stated to have been linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba. It was at the behest of its organizers that they frequented Mumbai prior to the attack. They received funds from it to carry out the attack. The charge further states that a nexus has been forged between the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and Al-Qa'ida. They are gearing up to cause anarchy and instability not only in South Asia but across the entire world by carrying out terrorist activities.
Pakistan assured India and the world community, particularly its patron like the United States, it will go whole way to destroy the existing terror structure in its country, but it has failed to do so as promised. Gates, who held the post of CIA director before becoming US defense secretary has admitted that the United States and the NATO forces have failed to foil the Taliban offensive because they have set up bases in tribal areas bordering Pakistan, particularly in Waziristan. Things have come to such a pass that a holy nexus has been forged between the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba, Al-Qai'da, and the Taliban.

Taliban Factor
The primary objective of Gates' observations seems to be that the United States failed to fully achieve the Pakistani concurrence to initiate all-out action against terrorists. Neither the elected government led by Asif Ali Zardari nor the Pakistani military is sincere in this regard. The Pakistani intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been maintaining its ties with the Taliban and the Lashkar-e Taiyiba as in the past. It is still preoccupied with serving its own diplomatic interests through use of their good offices.
The actual motive of Gates' India tour appears to be that India should come forward to improve its relations with Pakistan even under such circumstances and agree to bilateral defense agreements with the United States, but India can ill-afford to agree to it.