Write a essay on The role played by the United States in promoting/hindering improved relations between India and Pakistan.
Answers
- There is a need to embrace an overarching strategic stability regime and to shun aggressive security doctrines to reduce the possibility of a nuclear conflict.
- The problems of terrorism and Non-State Actors need to be addressed jointly through institutionalised mechanisms.
- Water issues should be resolved through the mechanisms provided by the Indus Basin Treaty and should not be allowed to degenerate into a serious source of conflict.
- Confidence-building measures should be pursued to alleviate the “trust deficit” but should not be used as a substitute for the resolution of disputes.
- Economic co-operation and trade should be facilitated to develop mutuality of interest.
- India and Pakistan need to understand each other’s legitimate interests in Afghanistan and pursue them without coming into conflict with each other
As far as the role of the United States of America in promoting or hindering the Indo-Pak relation is concerned, it can be reasonably concluded that it is playing the horse-rider’s role or what in Mahabharata called “Sarthi”, American pressures on both the sides especially on Kashmir issue one of paramount importance. After resisting any American involvement in its conflict with Islamabad with decade, India is now deliberately drawing Washington in Islamabad, believes that the fear of a “nuclear flash point” could be used to draw the American in to put pressure on India to negotiate on Kashmir has been shattered. The USA now insists that the LOC must remain inviolable not just from conventional Pakistani military aggression but also terrorist’s infiltration. It has also made it clear that any Indo-Pak dialogue on Kashmir would only follow rather than precede an end to cross border terrorism. India’s coercive diplomacy since December 13 has succeeded in mobilizing the American power to force Pakistan into new commitment to giving up cross border terrorism. For the final settlement of Kashmir issue and promises made by Musharraf, India must have conducive diplomatic dialogue with the USA.
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