Despite India’s strong reaction, US has steadfastly defended
its decision of selling eight F-16 aircrafts to Pakistan. In the meanwhile,
Dana Rohrabacher introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to
block the sale of the aircrafts to Pakistan. Pakistan claims that F-16 would
help in counter-terrorism operations and will promote regional stability. Currently Sartaz Aziz, Pakistani adviser on
foreign affairs is in Washington for the sixth Ministerial Level US-Pakistan
Strategic Dialogue with John Kerry. With US leadership upholding the decision
of sale of F-16s to Pakistan, Aziz reiterated that F-16s will help not only
Pakistan in carrying out counter-terrorism operatives but would promote
regional stability. It is widely believed that despite disapproval of Congressmen,
it will not be impossible for US leadership to go ahead. In light of present
scenario it would be incumbent on India to deconstruct the US foreign policy
towards Pakistan. Indo-US watchers critically opine that Indian strategists by
and large failed to interpret US policies in a logistical way. While some
believe that by far Pakistan successfully managed to hoodwink Washington and
effectively milked it for own ends. Others rally that Washington has
de-hyphenated its relations with India and Pakistan since 1990s.
As illustrated by Zorawar Daulet Singh, US didn’t de-hyphenate
its relations with India and Pakistan. Rather India has consciously
de-hyphenated its relations with US by passionately ignoring Washington’s
disposition with Pakistan. During the Cold war regime the US was keen on
extending its power across the globe. Even UK was enamored to build better
relations with Pakistan over India with UK proclaiming to remain close and
friendly with Pakistan. Britain reiterated that it wouldn’t hesitate “to avoid
any action which might weaken these relations”. In the aftermath of partition when India was
battling critical refugee exodus from East Pakistan, the western powers, US and
UK despite their divergent policies towards South Asia favored Pakistan. Amidst
threat of heightened hostilities, in 1950 US diplomatic arm strongly viewed
that Pakistan would be an ideal candidate to foster its larger geopolitical
interests in Asia. Further Pakistan’s repeated pleas for military assistance
and Washington’s anxiety to portray themselves as neither Pro-Indian nor
anti-Muslim consolidated US’s official drift towards Islamabad. Subsequently,
US tried to strengthen Pakistan’s view point on Kashmir at UNSC. Categorized as
a middle power, bilateral relations with India were deliberately undermined
owing to Delhi’s unflinching commitment to remain independent (non-aligned).
The West largely believed that maintaining solidarity with
India burdened by internal and external hostilities would be rather improbable.
Further they construed Indian policies towards accession of Princely states after
independence and its defiant attitude towards Kashmir as traits of imperialism
and if unchecked might become another Japan. To maintain a balance of power in
South Asia, they propped-up Pakistan. US state department minutes of 1949,
shortly after Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to US noted that, “national traits if
not controlled could make India Japan’s successor in Asiatic imperialism. In
such circumstances, a strong Muslim–bloc under the leadership of the Pakistan,
favorable to US might offer desirable balance of power in South Asia”.
Subsequent American leadership too have been highly critical of India and even
berated India’s independence as largely undeserved. Richard Nixon, Henry
Kissinger unabashedly pronounced their inimical opinions regarding India.
US’s penchant for Pakistan stems from its profound keenness
to shape the balance of power in South Asia. Pakistan, in effect served as a
launch pad, wherein US not only made forays into subcontinent but also secured
safe access to facilities and bases to contain Soviet Union. In turn, US
ensured that Pakistan had all the sophisticated weaponry and equipment to take
on India in a direct combat. Robert Komer in 1966 cabled to Lyndon Johnson: “We
have built up Pakistan’s own independent position and sinews- to the tune of
almost $5billion in support. We have protected Pakistan from India”.
India’s assertions to be independent from the beginning was
incongruent with the US’s foreign policy which relies fundamentally on
maintaining balance of power in a region. As per the dictums of its calibrated
geopolitical strategy, US intended to neutralize an independent middle-power
(India) and tried to maintain the balance by aligning with Pakistan. By and
large, Indian strategists logically failed to deconstruct US foreign policy
towards India. The underlying conjecture that prompted Indo-US civil nuclear
agreement were unencrypted. By late 1990’s when India’s rise became imminent,
US aspired to reshape, the contours of India’s regional and global roles and
also wanted to quash India’s concerns of US’s Pakistan policy. Nuclear
agreement was in fact a bait to deflect Indian concerns and fears of US’s
Pakistan policy. Moreover, after the collapse of Soviet Union, US’s resolve of
reigning as supreme global power became more preponderant. US envisioned that India
with its significant landmass and economic reliance post 91 reforms had the
needed potential to be a significant regional player. Under the ruse of
strategic congruence and to checkmate the nuclear aspirations of New Delhi,
Washington harped on the nuclear agreement. Simultaneously, it aptly, chose the
occasion to follow up its decision of delivering F-16s to Pakistan. The uninterrupted
logical flow of aids despite the 9/11 testimonies the “unalterable” stance of
US. Since 2001, nearly $31 billion were pumped into Pakistan by US of which $17
billion were diverted to buttressing Islamabad’s military capabilities.
Over the past six decades, US has hardly changed its
geopolitical strategy, rather India re-oriented its policy framework. Even now
despite obfuscations, detractions, calumny and serious U-turns Pakistan occupies
pivotal place in US’s foreign policy stratagem. In spite of India’s strong
reaction and severe opposition from US congress men, Washington is all set to
deliver eight F-16’s worth $700 million. By far, Pakistan, a major non-NATO
ally of US remains it largest benefactor. The Quadrilateral Consultative Group
constituted by the US with Pakistan and China ignoring India to restore peace
in Afghanistan stands as a latest testimony to US’s obstinate obsession for
Pakistan.
The list of the nefarious activities of Pakistan shrouded
under patronage of the US have hardly affected its policy. The genesis of
Pakistan from India was on religious lines and over the years, it mobilized
anti-India jihadi forces by projecting India as a Hindu nation. The Kashmir
issue is symptom of the larger malaise that afflicted Pakistan. Pakistan by
seeking parity with India fleeced resources from US. It tacitly lured China to
its ambit by gifting 1942 sq km of Pok along the Indo-China border and by
stealthily handed over the prized secret designs of the latest weaponry gifted
by the US. In return China fast tracked nuclear facilities in Pakistan and
gifted it a nuclear weapon. In the meanwhile, Pakistan under the guise of
assisting US in fighting Soviet Union in Afghanistan promoted its own agenda of
creating terror outfits which later attacked the US. Despite the double-cross,
deceit, calumny and multiple casuistries, US leadership had supported Pakistan.
In fact, President Ronald Regan intervened to prevent the prosecution of A. Q.
Khan who purloined a treasure-trove of nuclear secrets while working at
Holland.
Indo-US relations began to witness a new dawn in late 1990’s
due to a drastic change in India’s perception towards regional security. India
began to slowly overlook the US-Pakistan relations and began reposing interest
in building bridges of friendship with the US. In reality, US’s Pakistan
foreign policy is deeply entrenched and rooted in West’s symptomatic
geopolitical strategy of maintaining a regional balance of power. The interminable
generous bounties conferred by US is part of its statecraft, critically evolved
and pursued by its state department over decades. Pakistan defected US on
several occasions and Washington till now refused to admonish Islamabad. The
strategic alignments, nurtured by US are hardwired to serve its dubious ends. Its
time India comprehends, the canonical state craft of US and envisions its
geopolitical strategies logistically. Pakistan has been viewed as a strategic
asset by US. While US nonchalantly ignored India’s concerns, it would be
interesting as how Washington will craft its Pakistan’s foreign policy with
China emerging as profligate donor to Pakistan’s military coffers. Moreover,
with animosities between US and China escalating, how long US will accost its
strategic asset in South Asia?
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