Why the US supports INDIA : By Air Vice Marshal Shahzad Chaudhry

[Tiger Genie]

This author has also drank the koolaid about cpec.

 

[Aali Shafi]

India is a huge market for US. Furthermore, there are countless indians working at higher position in USA take the example of Microsoft and Google only.

 

[MastanKhan]

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/130262-Why-the-US-supports-India


Why the US supports India

For a long time now the ‘intellectuals’ and ‘commentariat’ of Pakistan have faulted us for looking at all or most of Pakistan’s foreign policy and security issues through the Indian prism; and rightly at that. Pakistan has let many an opportunity of blossoming into a true welfare state go by, held back by its ‘India problem’.

What could have been – and is not – is because of this one issue that sits at the core of why our policy formulation remains befuddled, and why we remain plagued by institutional dissonance.

Perhaps, this should have come at the end of this piece as a concluding thought, but is no harm in saying up front that for as long as India had a ‘Pakistan problem’ and remained stuck with it, it too remained stuck in a groove, failing to carve its own path to realising its potential. It was during the Rajiv Gandhi years that it deliberately broke away from its Pakistan overhang and forced a rethink of forging its independent path.

Pakistan would remain a foreign policy issue, perhaps on top of the pile for other reasons, but not all issues had to be seen in the light of satisfying India’s Pakistan obsession. India has since built on it and worked wonders carving its place in the international community. Pakistan is sadly lost in the maze of its own undoing in a fast changing world.

This in diplomatic terms is called ‘liberty of action’ – finding the necessary space to do a lot more than simply being obsessed on one issue and losing time. Time too is space, only measured. Pakistan remains obsessed with India and continues to waste precious time and resource on it. As a consequence, our relations with Afghanistan, Iran, and the US have only deteriorated, for in each case we were only willing to view our relations through the Indian prism. We remain held back by inaction even as the march of time beckons. Somewhere along the way we forgot 195 nations make up this world.

Since India has a rising profile in the world, the world sees in it a great advantage and is willing to help India on the way. Pakistan’s profile is stuck, stagnated at best if not deteriorating, forcing the world to see little benefit in giving it greater attention. That in crass terms is why the world prefers India over Pakistan. Add to it the various other socio-economic factors that add to the Indo-World relationship and the basis for any gripe by Pakistan only becomes lame.

Pakistan can match India by raising its profile with its immense resident potential but that needs ingenuity and channels of expression with a sound leadership. For the moment, such attributes escape our leadership portfolio. India is going places, and is being sold well to the world. Pakistan neither has the product, nor a selling strategy, and thus lies by the wayside. The biggest conspirators against Pakistan sit in Pakistan, though some of them may have their redoubts abroad. No one talks to a nation whose leadership is perpetually abroad, or has become hopelessly irrelevant to a fast moving world.

But let us move over to the NSG and what is happening there as an illustration to the above model of varying treatments for both Pakistan and India.

When the US declared its intent of signing the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2005, its primary aim was to sell India its nuclear reactors. India had sufficient honey in its pot and was willing to spend around $150 billion over the next ten years in this field. As the US warmed up to the prospect, India asked for a transfer of technology to feed its defence and security needs. It soon elevated its price for strategic support to the US with a membership of the prestigious NSG and other security and economic groups engaged in global policy.

This quid pro quo is cleverly thought out and feeds India’s strategic direction. Modi, on his recent visit to the US signed to induct six reactors; and the US, just last week, practised war manoeuvres with Indian ships in the Philippines Sea next to the South China Sea. If Pakistan sells itself short, that is Pakistan’s problem, not of other nations.

This arrangement with the US also enables India to close the Indian Ocean to China, somewhat. India also wishes to checkmate China’s rise to unprecedented strength and to restrict China to the South China Sea. India’s alliance then with the US can only be a happy confluence. Pakistan becomes an implicit consequence in this arrangement, and no more.

But then came the CPEC. Implicitly, there will be benefits that will accrue to Pakistan too but here both India and Pakistan are on the two opposing ends of the strategic spectrum. The US, India and there various allies want to contain China; Pakistan is offering it an escape to breakout. This fact in itself places both India-US and Pakistan-China on two opposing ends. India is supporting the US’s strategy and accrediting its own objectives; Pakistan is opposing the US’s strategy and garnering its own benefits.

Is it any surprise then where lies American support? These are stark facts, however specific to a particular geopolitical scenario, but there are many others where better conception and application can mitigate the negatives. We lag there too sadly, and quickly tie ourselves in hardnosed positions. Diplomacy needs space; we close space on ourselves.

Pakistan has a perfect story to sell on the NSG and the related Council of Disarmament issues; better than that of India. But we have been weak at selling it. The world cannot live with such defeatism for too long. All our effort has been to gripe about India’s proposed elevation. Had we instead sought a cooperative rise to the mantle, the world would have been far more accepting. A few telephone calls by ailing senior diplomats, sans the prime minister, is terrible diplomacy.

Again no one knows who is primarily responsible to fight Pakistan’s corner – the SPD that would just not let anyone else in its secret vaults, or the Foreign Office which only depends on what it is told to say. We remain a divided house and continue to lag – conspiracy and gripe our only recourse.

The writer is a retired air-vicemarshal, former ambassador and a security and political analyst.

Email: shhzdchdhry@yahoo.com

Hi,

An extremely poor article----. The direction should have been how badly pakistan squandered the opportunity that it had after 9/11----.

Being india centric did not have anything to do with it---. They just totally fckd up---. they could not comprehend what the U S was upto---they have no response to american actions or inactions---.

Being an ambassador---he must have provided bad information to the govt as well.

The problem over here is that pakistan did not fight tooth and nail for its position with the U S and let the U S take it all---.

First Gen Musharraf made a bad deal---then Benazir and Zardari sold pakistan to the U S----and then Nawaz sold pakistan to India---.

Pakistanis can tell as many sob stories as they want to about their relationship or lack of it with the U S----blaming them being india centric---and that is farthest from the truth.

 

[jupiter2007]

Pakistan has lack of leadership and vision, country is disunited, and pakistan does NOT have laws to control and defeat corruption and terrorism/exterism.

Solution --
1) Dealth penlty to all the corrupt politicans.
2) reform judicial system, political system and economic policies.
3) improve current infrastructure.
4) development of new cities in Balochistan.
5) repopulate Balochistan by relocating people.
6) 50,000 new colleges/universities.
7) free education from preK to 10th grade.
8) decenterlization of power to street level
9) 40 smaller administrative unites.
10) land reform.
11) new coastal citied.

 

[Jana Assassin]

Thats why two high level US delegations in one week visited Pakistan and praised its progress in north waziristan and senator John mcane blamed Obama for US failure in Afghanistan.

My god...If U actually believe that the statements made by them r the real opinions the US has got on Pakistan thn my dear frnd u r deluded... The only reason they r here bcoz they dont want ur country to blow thngs out of proportion for the F-16 deal nd the killing of the taliban pig....

Thats why two high level US delegations in one week visited Pakistan and praised its progress in north waziristan and senator John mcane blamed Obama for US failure in Afghanistan.

They came here in bid to try to mend ties that hav been strained due to the killing of a taliban pig, a terrorist who was by the way hiding in YOUR OWN COUNTRY nd the F16 deal mishap...

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Thats why two high level US delegations in one week visited Pakistan and praised its progress in north waziristan and senator John mcane blamed Obama for US failure in Afghanistan.

They 'said' things. And then bombed using drones.

 

[punit]

All these facts are well founded , but one more thing ignored by AM is that an element in the US establishment has become increasingly anti muslim in its approach. They would tolerate muslim countries for strategic purposes, but humiliate them time and again. India fits this purpose. That is why fences were mended with Cuba.

Muslim countries can neutralize the effects by aligning with China and Russia. Imagine if US military bases in middle east and the magreb are replaced with Chinese or Russian bases, what would happen? Since muslim countries dont see eye to eye with each other, this possibility becomes remote.

chinese or russian have no interest in setting up bases in Middle east.

 

[prashantazazel]

All these facts are well founded , but one more thing ignored by AM is that an element in the US establishment has become increasingly anti muslim in its approach. They would tolerate muslim countries for strategic purposes, but humiliate them time and again. India fits this purpose. That is why fences were mended with Cuba.

Muslim countries can neutralize the effects by aligning with China and Russia. Imagine if US military bases in middle east and the magreb are replaced with Chinese or Russian bases, what would happen? Since muslim countries dont see eye to eye with each other, this possibility becomes remote.

The world is growing increasingly anti religion, not just anti Islam. See how Christians have been sidelined in the US and Europe? The world is changing.

 

[AKD]

Pakistan has lack of leadership and vision, country is disunited, and pakistan does NOT have laws to control and defeat corruption and terrorism/exterism.

Solution --
1) Dealth penlty to all the corrupt politicans.
2) reform judicial system, political system and economic policies.
3) improve current infrastructure.
4) development of new cities in Balochistan.
5) repopulate Balochistan by relocating people.
6) 50,000 new colleges/universities.
7) free education from preK to 10th grade.
8) decenterlization of power to street level
9) 40 smaller administrative unites.
10) land reform.
11) new coastal citied.

Every thin you said is correct except the death penalty is too harsh.Life in Jail will be more apt for them

 

[jaunty]

The US has decided tat it wont tolerate pakistans double game anymore

Too simplistic and naive. The US doesn't care if Pakistan is playing double or triple game, as long as it benefits them.

 

[Syed_Adeel]

They 'said' things. And then bombed using drones.

I am talking about the event happened after drone. dont move the things to and fro.

My god...If U actually believe that the statements made by them r the real opinions the US has got on Pakistan thn my dear frnd u r deluded... The only reason they r here bcoz they dont want ur country to blow thngs out of proportion for the F-16 deal nd the killing of the taliban pig....


They came here in bid to try to mend ties that hav been strained due to the killing of a taliban pig, a terrorist who was by the way hiding in YOUR OWN COUNTRY nd the F16 deal mishap...

Well this was the first time they got such strong response from Pakistan. But at the end Pakistan will be going out of US block. its imminent. Now its India's turn to taste the selfish US friendship.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Hi,
Pakistanis can tell as many sob stories as they want to about their relationship or lack of it with the U S----blaming them being india centric---and that is farthest from the truth.

So what is the truth sir ?

im asking this question as india is been draged into the equation even when not required .. thanks & waiting for your reply sir

I am talking about the event happened after drone. dont move the things to and fro.



Well this was the first time they got such strong response from Pakistan. But at the end Pakistan will be going out of US block. its imminent. Now its India's turn to taste the selfish US friendship.

think again do you think your past and present judicial , beurocratic , militarry and political elite which has all there wealth and properties and families in USA and its closest allies will let that happen ? your really naive or say trying to denay the bitter realities

now as for india well we want best for us and USA currently provides them to us not because USA loves india they do it cause they tend to make profit from it both economically and strategically your nation would be much much better if you look things rationally

 

[Mav3rick]

All these facts are well founded , but one more thing ignored by AM is that an element in the US establishment has become increasingly anti muslim in its approach. They would tolerate muslim countries for strategic purposes, but humiliate them time and again. India fits this purpose. That is why fences were mended with Cuba.

Muslim countries can neutralize the effects by aligning with China and Russia. Imagine if US military bases in middle east and the magreb are replaced with Chinese or Russian bases, what would happen? Since muslim countries dont see eye to eye with each other, this possibility becomes remote.

Slowly and gradually the US is dumping Saudi Arabia and there will come a time when Saudi Arabia will eventually have to dump the US and ally with some other country. That some other country can only be China.

 

[Centurion2016]

USA Alliance with india has been nurtured by many vested pareties.

1. Indian business men in usa have pushed this relationship there are many rich Indians in USA
2, Israel is india biggest military supplier and a key ally of india it has strong voice in Washington
3. India has grown a strong economy & GDP and is a big market for USA trade
4. India generally has good relations with western nations
5. Modi has taken the relationship even higher
6. Pakistan and WOT and USA conflict with islam has pushed the Pakistanis out INDIA has filled the vacume
7. Rise of China USA wants alliance toi encircle China it has it India South Korea Japan & Austrlia

 

[Syed_Adeel]

So what is the truth sir ?

im asking this question as india is been draged into the equation even when not required .. thanks & waiting for your reply sir


think again do you think your past and present judicial , beurocratic , militarry and political elite which has all there wealth and properties and families in USA and its closest allies will let that happen ? your really naive or say trying to denay the bitter realities

now as for india well we want best for us and USA currently provides them to us not because USA loves india they do it cause they tend to make profit from it both economically and strategically your nation would be much much better if you look things rationally

Well i think you are naive in Pakistan's current status and the army take this time.
Army has given straight message to them this time and thats the reason that there are two high level delegations in two weeks. First time its clearly asked whether US wants peace or not. why US is not attacking ttp. why US asked Pakistani to drag Taliban to table and they attacked their leader. so things are really changing. all the times are not same. now sennator john mcane given the statement that Afghan failure is because of Obama not because of Pakistan. so you really think that john mcane is also naive and not being rational ??