US and Indo-Pak Relations, Abdul Latif Bhat

Opinion, June 2003, Al-Jazeerah.info

US and Indo-Pak Relations,

Abdul Latif Bhat

6/28/03

"The United States of America uses its B-2 bombers in the year 2012 to launch conventional air-strikes to destroy Pakistani nuclear facilities in a bid to prevent the nukes from falling into the wrong hands.”

It’s just one of the many futuristic scenarios culled out from the "Asia 2025" study - a 147-page opus - conducted by the US under secretary of defence (policy).

In 2000 an Indian Weekly made these sensational disclosures by quoting Rand Corporation’s Ashley Tellis, one of the 15 top-guns of American policymaking who took part in the study. Written in 1999 and distributed in limited circles, these documents show that US defence planners are now shifting their focus from Europe to Asia where they would wish to contain the threat of an economically-resurgent China.

The aim and objective of USA according to the disclosures was to implement its own designed "New South Asian Order."

As it is obvious now that the study was conducted two years before 9/11 the day when America was attacked, these disclosures have become irrelevant now because America is now facing the new challenges after collapsing of the twin towers of World Trade Center. September 11 attacks put Pakistan in a very vulnerable position but anyhow the Pakistani leadership and the government averted the threat tactfully.

Now the changed situation has witnessed diversification of American interests towards other countries. Though it has still the designs to interfere in South Asia affairs but undoubtedly with a changed mindset. US is now warming up to knock at the doors of South Asia after establishing foothold in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It is the Kashmir which for US seems most favorable part in the region to fulfill its interests and ambitions. And America’s meddling into this issue will be seen very genuine and logical given the historicity and disputed nature of the problem.

The best way to be in the thick of Kashmir developments is to label the freedom struggle as terrorism and then widen its area of operation under the garb of ‘war on terrorism.’
By putting the Kashmir based Mujahideen organizations into its watch list indicates that America is on its way to implement its own designed and conceived New South Asia Order.
It was in this backdrop that a team of US Pacific Command led by General Camphell visited Kashmir recently with the sole objective of visiting some areas in order to understand the terrain which could be used in case of a battle against the Al-Qaida from this hilly land. The interesting thing to note is that the team met senior military commanders of the Northern Command in Udhampur and discussed the security scenario and common concerns.
The Northern Command takes care of Sino-Indian border in Ladakh and a 940 km stretch of Line-of-Control (LoC) with Pakistan stretching from just beyond Kargil to Chamb secto! r in Jammu.

So there is no doubt in understanding this fact that America is trying to seek the help of India to formalize its strategy against China.

America is trying to kill two birds with one stone. On one hand it release a new map of the region where in Kashmir is shown as a part of India and on the other hand US State Department spokesman Mr Richard Boucher makes a statement that that the Kashmir issue shall be addressed according to the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. It is playing double and trying to keep the two warring countries in good humour in order to move ahead with its own agenda in the region.

The positive aspect of the whole scenario is that after the America’s attack on Iraq and the mass destruction of that oil rich country, India and Pakistan have understood the double standard of America. They have started realizing that this country is friend of none and whatever interest it exhibits time and again is only to further its own interests no matter whether these clash with the interests of India and Pakistan or coincide.

This is a positive development that the two countries are thinking to get closer because of Kashmir for which they have been fighting for the last 55 years.

Today Mr. L.K. Advani is ready to solve the issue on the basis of compromises. How much it is true, will be clear within days as in the past such kind of statements had been made by different people at different occasions but later on clarifications were made that actual issue to be settled is the part controlled by Pakistan better known as Azad Kashmir. So for President of Pakistan has responded positively to this statement.

It is heartening to note that both India and Pakistan are moving ahead on a path that may lead to creation of conducive atmosphere for talks. This is also a positive development that unofficial personalities and prominent intellectuals too are stressing for solving this issue bilaterally.

Here Ms. Nasim Zehra is advising “KEEP AMERICA AT BAY” and there Mr. Kuldip Nayyar talks in the similar tune saying “KEEP THE US AWAY”. Now both the countries have to prove that there is no evil intention in their minds.
By putting the Kashmir issue on the top agenda of talks, both the countries would be able to start a new journey with the aim to pave the way for peace and prosperity .Then there would be no one who can dare to terrify any of the two countries. And if need be for establishing a New South Asia Order that would be done only and only by Indo-Pak collaboration.

(The writer is Islamabad based Kashmiri Analyst and can be reached at kashmiriwriter@hotmail.com)

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).