How Nuclear-Armed Rivals Pakistan and India Will Test Obama
Their explosive mix of terrorism and nuclear weapons fuels fears of an all-out war
Such has been the shift in U.S. policy toward India that Bush, with eventual congressional backing, reversed some three decades of nonproliferation policy barring nuclear cooperation with New Delhi. A deal to permit civilian nuclear trade—opposed by many nonproliferation specialists—became the cornerstone of a new strategic relationship, say U.S. officials. Islamabad was pointedly left out. Washington and New Delhi also found significant common ground on dealing with terrorism after 9/11, a posture that has found fresh impetus with the Mumbai attacks. U.S.-Indian military ties are growing as well.
Obama will find the strengthened U.S.-Indian connection an asset in trying to ease tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, but the going will be tough. U.S. officials have been pressing Islamabad to probe and crack down on the Pakistan-based group thought to be behind the Mumbai operation—Lashkar-e-Taiba. India has given Pakistani authorities a packet of evidence on a "conspiracy" it alleges includes former Pakistani military officials said to have helped train the terrorists. Pakistan is unlikely to comply with India's demands that suspects be tried in India.
In counseling restraint and caution from India, U.S. officials are in a delicate position. U.S. forces have had presidential authority to attack suspected militants in Pakistan with pilotless drones and special operations teams. But the U.S. involvement in strikes inside Pakistan is deeply unpopular there, making cooperation with U.S. initiatives politically difficult.
The Obama administration will want Pakistan to stay focused on combating the Taliban and its supporters rather than on its disputes with India. Pakistan's recent shift of some troops from areas fronting Afghanistan to those closer to India goes precisely against what Obama and his foreign policy team are expected to seek.
And in pushing Pakistan to support the United States in Afghanistan and on other problems, Obama will have the extra difficulty of needing to avoid actions that weaken a fragile civilian government. The country was roiled by the traumatic assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, while the civilians returned to power only last year after the resignation of what started as a military government led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
The civilian politicians will need all the help they can get in overcoming the legacy of military rule by him and other generals in the past. "For the first time, Pakistan's politicians are united in the goal of making Pakistani democracy work," says Pakistan's ambassador in Washington, Husain Haqqani.
For the new administration, South Asia will provide no shortage of complexity—or the high international stakes to match.
- Read more about the perilous world that Obama inherits.
- Read about Iran's nuclear challenge.
- Read about containing North Korea's nuclear breakout.
- Read about how Afghanistan will be a hard war for Obama to win.
- Read about whether Obama can begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
- Read about how China will test the Obama administration.
- Read about why Russia may become a big problem for Obama.
- Read about the multiple crises in the troubled Middle East.
- Read about European expectations for Obama's presidency.
- Read about how Obama could change Cuba policy.
- Read about Canada's and Mexico's wish lists for Obama.
Reader Comments
Realaties we must face,
Despite all other important issues, we must invest some time to investigate the true origin and destination of human being. Rest is B.S. Countries will rise and fall, power will shift from one place or country to another, its not important. Look at the history and you will get the answer.
Important thing is the destination, we all are headed for.If we put all of our resources ( without being biased) into finding out the truth about the creation and the one who is responsible for creating all these billions of galaxies and other creations. Once we know the truth THEN TND THEN ONLY OUR PROBLEMS WILL COME TO AN END. Like they say ignorance of law is no excuse, similarly on the day of recogning, nobody will be excuse just because they did,nt know. We must know and obey the creator just like we know and obey the laws of the coumntry we are living in. We are living in this country called planet earth, we must invest some time to know who created and running the show and must come to terms with this reality and act accordingly. We are all like a big family, the day we realise this , our problems will start traveling towards an END. Lets not waist time and start today, GOOD LUCK TO ALL. BEST WISHES TO THE FAMILY.
india or pakistan
well USA knows what to do, because USA leaders can not forget the help of pakistan during soviet era, and still pakistan is doing every thing possible to be an all weather ally of USA, but if USA wants to choose india because of its booming economy and anti-chinese idiology, i dont think so it would be a good idea.
once india was close ally of then Soviet Union and now russia, but they never proved a good friend, Russia did every thing for them from defence of offence, now india is a nuclear power only because of then Soviet union, but what happened to their help, without giving a pini they lost india, and india turned to USA and west,
one day when they will achieve their objectives, they will forget USA also and join any other power to be against USA
my thinking is not equivalent to those who decide US foreign policy, but repeating mistake is not a mistake, so why should US do when Russia already done
Opportunities
There are great problems facing not just the US but the world regarding security in South Asia. The nuclear issue makes the stakes that much higher (another reason why allowing Iran to beecome a nuclear power is a bad idea, even if Israel would ever let that happen). Still, for the US to make headway in Afghanistan requires the support (and active engagement) of Pakistan. If Pakistan is not prepared to deal with its internal troubles, there is little hope of success in Afghanistan. Have a look at www.asiachroniclenews.com. There are some good articles available there.
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