Indo - US talks: Mutual sensitivities must be taken into account

On Wednesday we published a comment by Lt. Gen Mohan Bhandari (Retd.) that he had written in response to an article outlining an agenda for Hillary Clinton. This article is an expansion of those thoughts. What is strategic about the so called ‘strategic partnership’ between India and the US when the US continuously resists sharing actionable intelligence inputs about Islamic terrorists in Pakistan and  Afghanistan that are plotting against India? This issue becomes extremely relevant when we now know that the Indian Mujaheddin have close links with the Taliban.  Nothing, as it is, was expected out of these talks except nice sounding rhetoric from both sides. Out of seven major issues that were to be discussed, nothing substantial has been arrived at, barring a couple of agreements on less relevant issues. The most important point related to the hastening and implementation of the civil nuclear deal remains unresolved. Minor agreements mean little. There appears little commonality, insofar as the perceptions and viewpoints of the two largest democracies of the world are concerned. It is true that in the international arena, it is only permanent interests that matter and there are no permanent friends or foes. Notwithstanding this, there has to be even space for deliberating nation states to accommodate each other’s feelings and priorities. What does the US mean when it says that ‘it can continue pressurising Pakistan and it can only be done to a limit’? The US certainly knows that India will be an important factor in bringing stability to Afghanistan and fully recognises the fact that India’s larger desire is to protect its strategic interests well beyond South Asia. It may be recalled that the Wakhan Corridor (North Eastern Afghanistan) was carved out by the British as part of  ’the Great Game’ to ward off communist influence over British India. This is an area of immense geo-political and geo-strategic importance that Pakistan would like to have access to. The US also knows fully well that India is not prepared to join US/NATO Forces in Afghanistan. But India’s recent initiative in the Central African Region (CAR) countries is a right step in this direction. For instance, the Indian Army Chief visited Tajikistan in Nov 2010 to enhance defence cooperation to combat international terrorism. Hundreds of Tajik cadets have passed out of the National Defence Academy since 1998. India is in the process of establishing a high altitude Medical Research Centre in Kyrgyzstan and  the government is in the process of expanding this cooperation with other CAR countries as a renewed diplomatic offensive. Meanwhile, China has adopted a ‘ String of Pearls Policy’ around India by establishing bases at Co Co Islands, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Gwadar ( Pakistan). It is high time that India establishes close defence ties with South Eastern countries near the South China Sea and the Pacific region. It is true, however, that the US is possibly the only country in the world that can help with the enormous capacity building India requires. Presently the US has economic constraints coupled with deep entrenchment in its operational,  yet geographical, quagmire in Af-Pak, Middle East and  South West Asia. While sitting across a table for  meaningful talks, it is imperative that mutual sensitivities are appreciated and a bit of give and take is resorted to most diplomatically. Mutual trust and sincerity are  a must.  India, today, is  not what it was two decades ago. Hopefully, more meaningful outcomes of such talks will lead to viable results on the ground for both countries in coming times. Else these talks will continue to remain only  as ongoing communication and engagement processes.