Few days back “we said that”:https://varnam.org/archives/000083.html it is not in India’s interest to accept Pakistan’s offer to denuclearize. The Indian Prime Minister made that more clear.
“PM rejects Pak’s de-nuclearisation proposal”:http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/08pak5.htm
bq. He asserted that India’s nuclear programme was not Pakistan-specific, while the reverse was the case with Islamabad. Intervening in a debate on Indo-Pak ties in the Lok Sabha, Vajpayee said, “We have to keep in mind developments in other neighbouring countries as well.”
Pakistan is just a nuisence for us. The bigger enemy in the region is China and without our nuclear weapons India will be like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered or forest land waiting to be grabbed by Arundhati Roy.
The Americans are aware of this factor and hence my guess is that the nuclear issue will not be thrust on our faces.
“US and India: A dangerous alliance”:http://www.sulekha.com/redirectnh.asp?cid=308952
bq. That analysis was paralleled in a recent, classified US Department of Defense document revealed by Jane’s Foreign Report. The document argues that “China represents the most significant threat to both countries’ [India and the US] security in the future as an economic and military competitor.” The document also quoted an unnamed US admiral as saying that both the US and India view China as a strategic threat “though we do not discuss this publicly”. The document goes on to observe that US relations with its “traditional” allies in Asia – South Korea and Japan – have become “fragile” and concludes that “India should emerge as a vital component of US strategy”.
In this context it is important to note this statement by Brajesh Mishra
“Mishra proposes India-Israel-US anti-terror alliance”:http://www.sulekha.com/redirectnh.asp?cid=309028
bq. The idea of a Washington-New Delhi-Tel Aviv axis against terror is not new, but it is the first time it is being proposed so openly and formally. While doing so, Mishra spoke of the “fundamental similarities” between India, the United States and Israel, including their democratic system, sharing a common vision of pluralism, tolerance and equal opportunity.
bq. “Stronger India-US relations and India-Israel relations have a natural logic,” India’s foreign policy principal, who is in Washington for talks with top US officials, told the Jewish movers and shakers. Mishra also announced at the dinner that New Delhi hoped to receive Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon soon in India on an official visit.
Foreign Policy Developments
Published
Hiya, JK. How’s it going?
I think an alliance with Israel is definitely a good thing for India. They can stick together in fighting and defeating Islamic terrorism.
Lily, we are all fighting the common enemy, Islamic Terrorists. So it makes sense for these democracies to come together.
As a US citizen, I was a bit dissapointed that the Indian government was opposed to the US incursion in Iraq. At the same time, I realize that the US has been guilty of treating Pakistan with kid gloves in an effort to ensure assistance in rooting out Al Queda.
Does anybody else see a connection between America’s relatively muted response to the assasination of members of the Indian parliament (condemning the assasination, but refraining from criticizing Pakistan for allegedly harboring the terrorst cell that carried out the attacks) and India’s opposition to the war in Iraq?
Sean, the Indian Govt. had very good relations with Iraq and Saddam Hussein for many years. Saddam has helped India with oil supplies when in need. So I am sure the Indian Parliament will never openly support the war on Iraq. Similarly, India has very good relations with Yassar Arafat (don’t know why). So it takes an ambivalent stand in the middle east dispute.
Another problem is that India is a country like the United States, vibrant democracy, the home of people who follow diverse religions and has more muslims than Pakistan. When India is affected by Islamic Terrorism, the US instead of openly supporting the largest democracy in the world, supplies arms and money to Pakistan.
Sean, you bring up some interesting points – I am sure there si always that feeling of “Oh, the US can retaliate for terrorism against her, but we can’t?”, but as JK mentioned, India has always had a knack of supporting the wrong people throughout history (thank God we are not as bad as some other countries), but we are getting better at choosing our allies, I think.
India’s relations with Iraq are based on India’s interests just like any other country’s foreign policy is.I don’t see anything wrong with that as Indian. and India not supporting the war with Iraq, why should she? US couldn’t convince half of its citizens until it declared war on Iraq. US never cared about India even in its difficult times always siding with Pakistan. So why should India support this Bush war on Iraq?
Sean, as US citizen you should be disappointed not with India but with your own country US for its naked aggression, killing of thousands of innocent civilians in the name of removing Saddam Hussein from power, all the while lying to its own people about the reasons to declare war on Iraq and now the shameless declaration to the world that it’s going to occupy Iraq indefinitely.
ind, it is double standards when India is openly hostile to America’s plans and then keeps calling on the US to “put pressure on Pakistan” and help them out on Kashmir.
Anand and ind, both of you should be disappointed that your country is bhai-bhai with a tyrant whose favorite pastime is running people through plastic shredders. National interests? What national interest lies in seeing all the mass graves that are being turned up now?
Anand, US killed thousands of civilians in Iraq? Oh poor thing! I would take your self-righteous outrage a lot more seriously if you had been crying yourself hoarse over the atrocities that Saddam has been committing with impunity on Iraq over these decades. I guess it is OK for people to be tortured, gassed and killed as long as America is not involved in anyway. Give me a fucking break!
India opposed the war on Iraq. Now Indian companies are running behind US companies to get subcontracts. Isn’t that hypocricy ?
Shanti, as you said, we did not utter a word when Saddam was killing people so long as he was supplying us with oil. In fact there is a picture of IK Gujaral hugging Saddam after he invaded Iraq. What image does that convey ?
I am on a 31K dialup..but still.
JK, I know you meant after Saddam invaded Kuwait – that is the point I was trying to make. As far as Kuwait is concerned, we will always be the traitors who sided with their oppressors. Where is national interest or any morality in that?