SPIEGEL Interview with Pervez Musharraf

[deckingraj]

I think it is a case of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer", but you will surely disagree. Only time will tell and, certainly, on occasion, the two will find common ground (climate change, etc.).

See i am not denying what you are saying...i very categorically said that India and china are potential adversary, in other words there are real chances that there can be a war between them...Both sides are preparing them with that respect as well...However both sides also know how a war can spoil decades of hard work in a whisker....Good part is that both have realized this and are moving in a direction which will eventually erase any suspicions....Have we reached that point, heck no...are we in a better position then what we were a decade ago...Absolutely!!! ...I hope we can agree on this ground...

No, Pakistan has always been in the bad books with the West all throughout its history. Our 'friendship' has always been one of convenience without any depth and never went beyond the White House and the Pentagon. The reason has to do with the powerful lobbies in the West and, if you have followed any of my other threads, you know exactly what I am talking about.

My understanding is a little different...You certainly were not an important ally until AF war occured..Once that war was over you were back to where you were...Lobbying is fine but did you have something strong to offer in return??? ....However saying that you were in bad books is not correct....Atleast comparing with India...anyhow you would know better than me when it comes to Pak....

But geography is the main reason the West is interested in India in the first place. If they were after a rich and upcoming consumer market, they would have gone to China instead. The reason they like India is because it serves as a thorn in both China and Pakistan's side, especially since Japan is distancing itself from the West and focusing more on Asia.

No mate...Your assertion has many flaws....Geography has nothing to do with India and US relations...US-India relations improved only from clinton era and reach unprecedented level during bush era...the same time when our economy took a great shape, do you think all this is co-incidence??? Look if it is only market then US-China trade is huge as compared with US-India...However since unlike china we don't have any conflict if interest with US relationships are going to improve....

Never mind outmanoevering; Pakistan needs to have a very strong economy just to stay relevant in our relationship. The way things are going right now, the India-Pakistan relationship will become more like the India-Bangladesh relationship or the India-Sri Lanka relationship. We may be able to maintain military competitiveness, but in all other aspects we risk becoming irrelevant to India. That would spell disaster even in a bilateral solution to Kashmir.

I agree with you....In order to negotiate you need to have some strength otherwise it is no longer negotiation...