Did Pakistan hear this?
US should warm up to implications of its South Asia policy.
Why do you say that India wants to help strengthen Pakistan?
India understands that it is not in its interest to try to destabilise or undermine Pakistan’s security at this very sensitive time.[Dawn]
This is Robert Blake, the new US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs in his first interaction with Pakistani media. It is a very interesting read. He said a few other things that certainly wouldn’t be music to Pakistani ears: New Delhi was ‘playing a very important role’ in Afghanistan; Pakistan would have to punish the 26-11 suspects and stop cross-border terrorist attacks if it wanted the resumption of bilateral talks with India; the US sees India and Pakistan as different challenges and different opportunities; and he dismissed any chances of Pakistan striking a nuclear deal with China modeled on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
There is no reason to disbelieve that these aren’t the considered official views of the Obama administration, which includes the State department under Hillary Clinton, and the Special Representative on AfPak, Richard Holbrooke. While Indians ought to feel satisfied by what they hear from Mr. Blake, such clear enunciation of US policy is likely to provide ammunition to most hardliners in Pakistan. And it could even have some policy implications for that country.
So, be certain that the military-intelligence-jehadi nexus will survive — dormant for the time being — but ready to flourish when the environment is less concerned about the propriety of such a relationship and consequent actions. Moreover, Pakistan will do all that is in its power to ensure that US and NATO forces neither win, nor lose, in Afghanistan in the near future. Pakistan needs easy money via multinational aid, but does not desire a non-Taliban government in Kabul. Its best chances lie with US forces still embroiled in Afghanistan, while a moderate Taliban government can occupy the seats of power at Kabul.
If the Obama administration is so clear and certain about its policies and goals in South Asia and Afghanistan, it should seek a much stronger all-round partnership with India. A partnership that just doesn’t talk about selling military platforms, WTO and climate change, but is more focused on the real challenges that both India and US face in the region — AfPak being the top-most among them.
The Obama administration speaks in multiple voices. On the one hand, we hear a lot from Mr Blake and Mr Roemer which portend well for a positive, productive and symbiotic engagement between India and the United States. On the other hand, the appointment of Robin Raphel, a confirmed lobbyist for Pakistan in the capacity of Senior Vice President at Cassidy and Associates prior to her appointment in the team of Richard Holbrooke who is the special representative of the Af-Pak sends a different signal.
The military-jehadi nexus in Pakistan will continue to survive as long as Pakistan hyphenates India and its national survival; as long as Pakistan falsifies its history by denying its South Asian roots and seeking an imaginary connection with the West and Central Asia. The historic address of Mr Jinnah was as much aimed at the obscurantist elements within the Pakistan society as to project to the World a secular face of Pakistan. Unfortunately, 62 years down the line, these twin objectives still remain as wishes yet to be fulfilled.
Taking a long term perspective, unless human development and economic empowerment take the centre stage of governance, US or no US, South Asian neighbourhood will remain troubled. To that end, there is a need within India too, to turn away from the sort of divisive politics practiced by many political formations based on religion, caste or language and adopt a development agenda which is inclusive in nature. Ultimately, the USA or for that matter, any other global power which has no stakes on ground is not going to be a solution provider. That solution has to be found from within those countries where the problem lies.
“as long as Pakistan falsifies its history by denying its South Asian roots and seeking an imaginary connection with the West and Central Asia.”
Not true. It’s at the core of their m_believes. even if adventitious roots.