US Def Sec Ashton Carter Witnesses India's Pakistan Obsession in Delhi

[RiazHaq]

http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/04/is-us-playing-india-card-to-check-china.html

Is the United States trying to play the India card against China while India is much more obsessed with Pakistan? Is the Indian behavior reinforcing the India-Pakistan hyphenation that the Indians claim to detest?


To answer these questions, let's take a look at the contents of the media reports on the Delhi visit by the US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

As the US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter recently went to New Delhi to pursue what he described as "whole global agenda" with India, the Indian media responded by focusing their questions to him on US-Pakistan ties. Here's a sample of what transpired:

Indian Media: Why do you continue to have close ties with Pakistan?

Ash Carter: India also has relations with other countries like Russia. We respect that. We value our relations with Pakistan.

Question: Why are you supplying F-16s to Pakistan?

Answer: What we do in Pakistan is directed towards counter terrorism. We too have suffered from terrorism emanating from the territory, more specifically Afghanistan. Pakistan has used F-16 in operations in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). We have approved it.

Anticipating questions about US-Pakistan ties during his India visit, here's what Cartertold Council of Foreign Relation in Washington D.C. before leaving for New Delhi:

“I’m sure I’ll be asked about it in India, but I think the first thing one needs to say from an American policy point of view, these (India and Pakistan) are both respected partners and friends.”

"Pakistan is an important security partner", Carter added.

While US is courting India to check China's rise, the China-Pakistan ties have now moved well beyond “higher than Himalayas and sweeter than honey,” as officials on both sides say. Chinese strategists openly talk of Pakistan as their nation’s only real ally. And China is investing heavily in Pakistan to build the Gwadar deep sea port as part of a much more ambitious and strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that India is attempting sabotage.

Let me conclude with a quote from from Brookings' Stephen Cohen on India-Pakistan power equation:

“One of the most important puzzles of India-Pakistan relations is not why the smaller Pakistan feels encircled and threatened, but why the larger India does. It would seem that India, seven times more populous than Pakistan and five times its size, and which defeated Pakistan in 1971, would feel more secure. This has not been the case and Pakistan remains deeply embedded in Indian thinking. There are historical, strategic, ideological, and domestic reasons why Pakistan remains the central obsession of much of the Indian strategic community, just as India remains Pakistan’s.”

Here's a video discussion on the subject:

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

India's Pakistan Obsession

India's Superpower Delusion: Modi's Policy Blunders

Does Pakistan Really Need F-16s to Fight Terror?

Pakistan-Russia-China vs India-Japan-US?

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Gwadar: Hong Kong West for China?

Indian Agent Kulbhushan Yadav's Confession


http://www.riazhaq.com/2016/04/is-us-playing-india-card-to-check-china.html

 

[cloud4000]

US does not treat its relations with India or Pakistan as a zero sum game, but India wants to. India wants US to abandon Pakistan to the point of declaring it a terrorist state.

This is an obsession in India. You just have to watch their obnoxious news channels and their nauseating unending coverage on Pakistan.

India is a bigger country, with a growing economy, but it behaves in an immature manner, at times.

 

[risingsinga]

I really see that here in Singapore also. My indian friends are always bad-mouthing Pakistan while Pakistanis remain indifferent towards them and discuss more about internal politics.

 

[T-Rex]

US does not treat its relations with India or Pakistan as a zero sum game, but India wants to. India wants US to abandon Pakistan to the point of declaring it a terrorist state.

This is an obsession in India. You just have to watch their obnoxious news channels and their nauseating unending coverage on Pakistan.

India is a bigger country, with a growing economy, but it behaves in an immature manner, at times.

This is the problem, india is way bigger but not a responsible power. Had india been like a true friend to her neighbours there wouldn't be any wars in this region. From the very beginning India has been trying to impose on her neighbours what she wants , when you do so you abandon peace.

 

[cloud4000]

This is the problem, india is way bigger but not a responsible power. Had india been like a true friend to her neighbours there wouldn't be any wars in this region. From the very beginning India has been trying to impose on her neighbours what she wants , when you do so you abandon peace.

You are describing a disease that can be attributed to many countries: the bigger you are the more arrogant you become, and smaller countries suffer for it. This is a story as old as time.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

India will seize to exist once a universal external nations is no longer an issue then folks wills start seeing local groupings

 

[T-Rex]

You are describing a disease that can be attributed to many countries: the bigger you are the more arrogant you become, and smaller countries suffer for it. This is a story as old as time.

If only people and countries were as wise as you.

 

[kabooter_maila]

This is the problem, india is way bigger but not a responsible power. Had india been like a true friend to her neighbours there wouldn't be any wars in this region. From the very beginning India has been trying to impose on her neighbours what she wants , when you do so you abandon peace.

Is it the skewed and pessimist Hindu psyche resulted from centuries of Muslim rule over Hindus causing disgraceful behavior they keep exhibiting? Is it due to the deep hatred towards Pakistanis that is causing inner insecurity in Indian leaders? Or is it the result of sever animosity caused by the shocking partition of the subcontinent that Hindus are unable live with so far? Probably all of these factors are in play. Whatever the reason, disgraceful Indian behavior towards Pakistan since 1947 is a well-recognized reality. Indian leaders are more of a laughing stock for the world. Countries the world over aim their national policies at driving their nation on the road of progress, development, and prosperity. In contrast, Indians define and monolithically follow their state policies with a single goal of how to weaken or harm Pakistan. This is a disgrace by itself. Using terrorism against the people of Pakistan as the Indian state policy is another disgrace. But more than that Indians keep shamelessly lying that their thinking is not Pakistan centric despite the fact that every action of Indian leaders reflects their inner insecurity versus Pakistan. Indians having good relations with Americans does not really mean for Indians that their two nations support each other. For Indians, the manifestation of having good relations with US means or requires bad Pak-USA relations. Look at every single visit of Indian PM to any other country since 1947, you’ll find Indian leaders asking less for their own country and more demanding their hosts for isolating Pakistan.

 

[PaklovesTurkiye]

I really see that here in Singapore also. My indian friends are always bad-mouthing Pakistan while Pakistanis remain indifferent towards them and discuss more about internal politics.

That should tell you what exactly the difference b/w us and them. We are superior to them, they possess inferiority complex. While we in Pakistan don't give jack squat about them unless they send their monkeys aka terrorists towards our soil. Check out below link.

.......

India is a bigger country, with a growing economy, but it behaves in an immature manner, at times.

Not at times..........Always

 

[cloud4000]

That should tell you what exactly the difference b/w us and them. We are superior to them, they possess inferiority complex. While we in Pakistan don't give jack squat about them unless they send their monkeys aka terrorists towar

If what you say is true, PDF would have no reason to exist.

 

[Peshwa]

Our concern is with our own security...if that means we are obsessive in eliminating threats, so be it!
I'd rather be obsessive than allow another 26/11 or kargil to take place in the future.

I mean the US implemented the patriot act post 9/11 and spied on every one of its allies in its obsession with its own security...what makes us so different?!
India is but a much less resourced and less powerful nation compared to the US...while dealing with a known troublemaker...we need to be exponentially more careful and alert in addressing our security.
If anything, this news makes me happy..

US does not treat its relations with India or Pakistan as a zero sum game, but India wants to. India wants US to abandon Pakistan to the point of declaring it a terrorist state.

This is an obsession in India. You just have to watch their obnoxious news channels and their nauseating unending coverage on Pakistan.

India is a bigger country, with a growing economy, but it behaves in an immature manner, at times.

Media is obnoxious yes...
Our obsession with security though is absolutely warranted...India (govt. and diplomatic circles) have to ask and work to ensure Indian security..thats their job and if it comes off as obsessive so be it!
It's not like we are dealing with a toothless pakistan..They have nukes and have been belligerent in their use of assymetric warfare propped up by nuclear blackmail.
This has to be addressed, no doubt about it..

 

[PaklovesTurkiye]

If what you say is true, PDF would have no reason to exist.

We are not even near to that level what you guys are at.....8 F16s and elephant starts shouting. What you said in your first post is exactly what India's policy is. We know that. India wants to compete with China alone, may be even if Pakistan wasn't hostile towards India, still India would have want to go for competition with China alone as you guys want whole world's attention towards you, like, a country, having democracy competing/fighting/resisting China and force to reckon with. Thats why you are hell bent on taking Pakistan out of the equation some how...but alas Pakistan spoils the game of India, as usual.

If Pakistan wasn't there, how easy would be for US and west to contain China with the help of India. Again, Pakistan spoils the game...Big time !!! China is going towards Gwadar, Pakistan is going for economic glory it once had and India is going nowhere....

All dressed up but nowhere to go...........This one suits India well....

No offence !!!

 

[cloud4000]

Media is obnoxious yes...
Our obsession with security though is absolutely warranted...India (govt. and diplomatic circles) have to ask and work to ensure Indian security..thats their job and if it comes off as obsessive so be it!
It's not like we are dealing with a toothless pakistan..They have nukes and have been belligerent in their use of assymetric warfare propped up by nuclear blackmail.
This has to be addressed, no doubt about it..

You will hear no argument on this score. No compromise on security, but I'm talking about tone here. India needs to ratchet down its anti-Pakistan rhetoric. That's all.

 

[Peshwa]

We are not even near to that level what you guys are at.....8 F16s and elephant starts shouting. What you said in your first post is exactly what India's policy is. We know that. India wants to compete with China alone, may be even if Pakistan wasn't hostile towards India, still India would have want to go for competition with China alone as you guys want whole world's attention towards you, like, a country, having democracy competing/fighting/resisting China and force to reckon with. Thats why you are hell bent on taking Pakistan out of the equation some how...but alas Pakistan spoils the game of India, as usual.

If Pakistan wasn't there, how easy would be for US and west to contain China with the help of India. Again, Pakistan spoils the game...Big time !!! China is going towards Gwadar, Pakistan is going for economic glory it once had and India is going nowhere....

All dressed up but nowhere to go...........This one suits India well....

No offence !!!

How exactly has Pakistan spoiled India's game?
What damage has Pakistan done to India except being an irritant?

You will hear no argument on this score. No compromise on security, but I'm talking about tone here. India needs to ratchet down its anti-Pakistan rhetoric. That's all.

I mean if you are taking the cue from Indian media and applying it to the Indian diplomatic efforts then of course it's going to look shabby..
Indian media is a problem...I don't see anything our govt. or diplomats have done that is unwarranted. (barring some local MPs who speak out like rabid dogs from time to time, but are in no position of influencing policy)

 

[shah1398]

I really see that here in Singapore also. My indian friends are always bad-mouthing Pakistan while Pakistanis remain indifferent towards them and discuss more about internal politics.

This attitude of theirs is more so due to their media and Pakistan centric election campaigns. But things do change fast later on as for example it was same Modi who had specific Pakistan bashing lines esp against Nawaz Sharif in almost every speech of him, but now they are best buddies. Indian media and politics feed on anti Pakistan rhetoric and the same is displayed by Indian population. Bdw I have interacted with lots of Indians but their perspective about Pakistan is totally changed right from the start. Can U expect an Indian Hindu to call India and saying that I have a Pakistani friend for whom i need this or expect an Indian Hindu to call U from India that just wanted to know U r all right? Its because they have seen us with their own eyes and their accounts related to Pakistan and Pakistanis is no more based on what media tells them. Same is case with us Pakistanis.