Analysis: India sidelined in US Af-Pak policy

It is increasingly being felt in New Delhi that India is not one of the gameplayers in US Af-Pak policy and has been rendered almost irrelevant in Washington moves in the region as the US is drawing the roadmap for early withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan under domestic pressure.

Even as signs of Islamabad scoring over India in strategic moves are clear, the US has not shown much seriousness in addressing India’s concerns over terror camps still operating in Pakistani soil unhindered, beyond friendly statements to please New Delhi. Increase in arms supplies from US to Pakistan, ready to believe its claim of needs to fight the Taliban, and huge allotment of funds, have only underlined New Delhi’s worries over the US intentions.

Washington has just delivered from its base in Jordan a squadron of 14 AH-1 Cobra advanced helicopter gunships to Pakistan, even while Indian Foreign Secretary was in Washington to convey apprehensions on Islamabad’s attitude to terror activities against India emerging from its soil.

Senior US officials have made periodic visits in recent months to New Delhi as well as Islamabad. While in India, they seem to appreciate the Indian leaders’ point of view on Pakistan terror infrastructure, when in Pakistan they sing a different tune. India does figure as an important nation in the region for the US, but it is clear that Washington considers Pakistan as a strategic ally for a foothold in the region, especially keeping in mind that Islamabad always has an option of tilting more towards an eager and friendly China if the need arises or if it ever feels let down by the US. No one in the Obama administration is likely to take seriously India’s caution that Pakistan should not use the arms it had got for apparently fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, to be used against India.

Though India’s humanitarian efforts as well as rebuilding works in Afghanistan is appreciated and acknowledged by the US, when it comes to drawing up the future plans for the Karzai regime, India is nowhere in the picture. In fact, after making a ridiculous statement that Indians were not the target of the recent Kabul attacks, after six Indians had been killed, Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, under the Obama Administration had to express regret and withdraw his remarks, under pressure after the Indian government protest to Washington.

Thus while Indian defence Minister A.K. Antony and Home Minister P. Chidambaram, repeatedly refer to the lack of adequate response from the Pakistani side to the dossiers on the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, Washington seems more impressed with Pakistan’s steps in this direction, almost accepting the Pakistan argument that it too was a victim of terror. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir when he was in New Delhi for the foreign secretary level talks, wryly remarked that “ Pakistan was facing terror attacks like Mumbai every day,” suggesting that it was unfair on the part of India to continue to focus on the 26/11 attacks, seeking action against the guilty in Pakistan. He had referred to the dossiers handed over to him by Indian Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao at a press conference as a “piece of literature” which bluntly put meant a figment of imagination! If that is the attitude, it would be unrealistic for New Delhi to expect much positive response from Islamabad. No wonder Defence Minister A.K. Antony has said it would be wrong to expect miracles from India-Pakistan dialogue given the huge trust deficit between the two countries.

Meanwhile, underlining the importance of stability in Afghanistan for regional security, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Thursday said Washington 'fully recognises' India's role in the war-torn country and reiterated that New Delhi will not be 'scaling down' its operations there following the recent attacks targeting Indians. "The United States fully recognises that India has legitimate interests in Afghanistan. It appreciates the development work we do there," said Rao.

Rao is visiting New York after her meeting with top Barack Obama administration officials in Washington, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns, where they discussed a host of issues on Indo-US relations. In Washington, Rao emphasised that India had a stake in Afghanistan's future, amidst growing signs that New Delhi has been reduced to the status of an observer in US' Af-Pak policy.

"India, as well as the international community, has to stay involved in Afghanistan in order to deal with the problem that has been created by extremist groups. It is very important to deal with these problems in a way that Afghanistan becomes a stable and prosperous democracy.

That is the core of what we are saying and what we convey to our friends like the United States," Rao said.

The foreign secretary also addressed the Council on Foreign Relations, a prominent think- tank, in a closed door session, as her six-day United States trip winds down.

Robert Blake visit to India, Pakistan

Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, Jr. is traveling to India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Belgium. This is his first visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan as Assistant Secretary. Blake will deliver a keynote address at the Asia Society Corporate Conference in New Delhi on March 20. He also will have consultations with Indian and American business representatives, and have discussions with his counterparts in the Ministry of External Affairs to prepare for the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in Washington in early summer.

While in Afghanistan, the Assistant Secretary will meet with embassy officials in Kabul and then travel to Kunduz to meet with local officials and visit the Provincial Reconstruction Team.

In Pakistan, Blake will meet with federal and provincial officials, civil society representatives, religious leaders and business representatives in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. He will hold consultations with EU counterparts in Brussels as part of the ongoing dialogue on South and Central Asia.

- Asian Tribune -