Briefly discuss the Indo-US relationship with special reference to Cold War and Post Cold War?
Answers
Explanation:
In the past, Indo-US relations were overshadowed by Cold War politics. The Indo-Soviet friendship and the US-Pak alliance were the two major irritants. Though ‘aid relations’ prevailed during 1950s and 1960s, New Delhi and Washington saw each other on opposite sides of the fence during this period. However, Presidents Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were in favour of maintaining good relations with India . Recently declassified papers show that Kennedy was more greatly interested in India than Pakistan . The Sino-Indian dispute in 1962 brought about enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries. But the 1965 Indo-Pak War undid everything; Washington lost interest in the region. Though President Carter showed some interest, the Afghan war witnessed US political support tilting again towards Islamabad . Reagan literally wrote off India . Later, in the mid-1980s the US strategy was to wean India away from the Soviet Union . Dramatic turn occurred in the 1990s—the Cold War was terminated with the disintegration of the Soviet Union and US-Pak relations nosedived, because of the latter’s clandestine nuclear programme.
Presently Indo-US relations are improving leading to several official visits. Though there is the burden of history, the US is no longer looked upon as “interventionist” by India . One reason could be the presence of non-Congress governments in New Delhi . India is viewed as the largest democracy and emerging economic power, despite its numerous domestic problems. It is also seen as a reliable and potential partner in Asia if US relations sour with China . The Bush regime has “rediscovered” India . The Indian Americans’ role is significant in boosting India ’s image in the US from a ‘land of the poor’ to the ‘country of brains’. NRIs are especially admired for their contributions to information technology. They are better organized than before through the India Caucus, which now includes 130 members of the House of Representatives.