Saturday 22 November 2014

Obama’s Visit to India: Major Diplomatic Triumph


Termed as a major diplomatic victory, Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to the US president Barack Obama as the chief guest for Republic Day will be a major game-changer. With this triumphant diplomatic move, Modi prudently downplayed political rivals who grossly underestimated his diplomatic acumen. In sharp contrast to these nay-Sayers, experts opined that Modi’s US visit was a tremendous success in many ways though tangible outcomes weren’t immediately imminent.

Modi during his bilateral visits to different countries established propitious relationships. Be it a warm friendly handshake with President Abe and genuflections at ancient Buddhist temples in Japan or be it a walk with president Obama at the National Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington. These friendly gestures eventually re-energised relationships between nations. President Obama’s brief dinner interaction with Modi at Nay Pyi Taw calling him a “Man of Action” also signalled US genuine interest in consolidating friendship with India. The formal acceptance of India’s invitation by Obama might be a huge let down for Pakistan.

Meanwhile relations between India and Pakistan turned acrimonious with Prime Minister Nawaz Shah under domestic duress issuing a strongly worded statement terming India as being inflexible. He reiterated Pakistan’s intentions of meeting Pakistani separatists first as a precondition for a dialogue with India. Pakistan has been vicious tricks portray India as a belligerent neighbour. Pakistan’s contentious strategies received a shot in arm with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani after assuming power visited Pakistan on his first bilateral relationship to recast strained relationship. With the withdrawal of 34,000 strong NATO troops from Afghanistan, Pakistan’s brazenness stands unimpeded. Pakistan seems to be on prowl and listless as recent reports indicate Pakistan’s soldiers being trained by China. Though China quickly admonished the reports, it is universally known that China and Pakistan are hand in glove with each other. Emboldened by Afghan’s friendly initiative Pakistan intends to whiplash India with its dubious and malignant strategies. While there have been repeated incursions and growing aggressions across the Indo-China and Indo-Pakistan border, government has displayed its strong commitment to contain the aggression. In order to mitigate the burgeoning border crisis, India had to lean either to its close pal Japan and US, to checkmate the aggression of the Dragon.

Pakistan and the US became allies in the war on terrorism. But the relations have strained frequently. American officials believed that Pakistan has been sheltering Taliban and sending double agents to Pakistan to collect classified information. These suspicions gathered much support with Secret surveillance of FB reporting of an intercepted conversation of Ex- Diplomat of US Robin Raphel, currently senior adviser on civilian aid with a Pakistani official. Reports indicate that she was divulging classified information to a Pakistani official. Ms. Raphel has been under scanner for assiduously favouring Pakistan and for her long standing relations with Pakistan. India was cornered on several occasions by the US because of her pathological dislike towards India.

US-Pak relationship suffered a major blow after US raided Abbottabad to kill Osama Bin Laden after which Pakistan made attempts to rebuild ties with the US. Pentagon’s report recently accused Pakistan of harbouring militants who wage terrorist attacks on Afghanistan and India. With troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, the US may no longer need to use the ports and roads of Pakistan. Earlier this year, US had to release top five Taliban fighters to free its army personnel from the captivity of Haqqani network. This deal left Pentagon officials high and dry. US Congress has expressed its frustration over Pakistani failure to scuttle the Haqqani network that posed direct threat to US interests. Pakistan is now planning to renew its military engagement with US post-2014 by its intensive combing operation against the militants in North Waziristan to convey that Pakistan is no longer discriminatory towards terrorists. Meanwhile as one of the splinter group of Al-Qaeda expressed its allegiance to ISIS, US is now seriously rethinking about its strategic relationships with Pakistan. The US is in a much better position to mount pressure on Pakistan. With US deeply contemplating on disbursing the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) which has been largely funding the military and non-military operation in US, Pakistan will be in deep trouble. So far Pakistan received $11 billion under CSF post 9/11 besides the $ 300 million worth military aid per year. Pakistan has been unabashedly promoting its anti-India scheme with these gracious aids. In short, US support to Pakistan has ebbed. US intelligence reports indict Pakistan for promoting militant savagery. Pakistan so far has been milking US playing the victim card of sponsored terrorism of India. During the same time, India became closer to the US under the Bush and Obama administrations

To date the new government’s major diplomatic high’s was obtaining pardon from the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for five Indian fishermen who were to be executed on drug charges. India had propitious beginning with Japan too. But as Japan is going through the arduous phase of recession, President Abe declared snap polls and dissolved the lower house. India has played the right diplomatic card by developing cordial relationship with US. RSS which has been dubbed as the Chanakya behind the BJP’s rajneeti has played the appropriate diplomatic card at the crucial hour.  US is embroiled and betrayed by the misdemeanours of Pakistan and with new evidence suggesting Pakistan as the hub of the terrorist activity in the South Asia.

Pakistan had outplayed India on several occasions over the K-issue. India was forced to accept the terms and conditions set by Pakistan for dialogue. Indian governments till now have been acceding to Pakistan’s whims and fancies. But Modi’s diplomatic bouncer has taken Pakistan for a ride. Besides the imbued strategic advantages, business opportunities and liberal exchange of skilled personnel both India and the US can gain hugely by renewing ties.  US can strategically position itself in South Asia by pledging ties with India. In the 21st century, Resurgent Asia is tipped to play a major role in reshaping World economy. India is poised to emerge as counter weight to the Asian giant China. India’s move of inviting Barack Obama couldn’t have been more historical and empirical....
 
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