Author: Editorial
Publication: The Statesman
Date: October 25, 2001
Introduction: Curious US allies
in fight for democracy
Colin Powell issuing "cool it" messages
to India and Pakistan is in perfect consonance with US national interests
- which is an excellent reason why New Delhi should partly ignore the advice.
Instead, it must keep reminding Americans that their current best friend
in the war against terrorism continues to be a springboard from which terrorists
jump into India. The militant attack on the Kashmir Indian Air Force base
is the latest in the outrages perpetrated in the valley, and further sign
that Pakistan has not pulled back its terrorists. Nor has the US really
put pressure on it. Given that, the Prime Minister's strong response to
Musharraf's rather shrill rhetoric is welcome, more so since it marks a
considerable advance on the ministry of external affairs' habitually tepid
ripostes. Vajpayee is also right in refusing to get drawn in the "let's
talk" gambit being used by Musharraf, who knows full well that is all the
US wants of him and that the offer to talk will allow him to come across
as a reasonable statesman. There's no immediate prospect of India erasing
that impression, given US preoccupation. So, New Delhi should not try too
hard, not especially when Vajpayee meets George Bush after the General
Assembly meet. It would suffice to coolly get across to Americans that
while we agree with them over the menace of terrorism, we happen to have
rather sharp differences over US approaches to countering it, since the
zealots Washington is fighting graduated from the very school which taught
the jehadis targeting India. That, plus retaining the option of a strong
military response if and when militancy breaches a certain tolerance limit
should constitute Indian policy for now. In that context, the reinstatement
of George Fernandes gives the Prime Minister some tactical advantage. George
and Jaswant can play the bad cop, good cop routine to keep Pakistan, and
its benefactor, on notice that India can be both restrained and tough.
One consolation for India in what
undoubtedly is a difficult foreign policy situation is that it is not the
only case where US hypocrisy is evident. Saudi Arabia, a cradle of ultra
conservative Islam, a country from which many of the 11 September terrorists
originated and, as has been credibly alleged, a source of private funding
for many dubious theocratic causes, is being cosseted as an ally, whereas,
logically, America should have jumped on the Arab kingdom and asked it
to do some explaining at length. Medieval monarchies and modern dictatorships
- the predominant system of governance in the Arab world - create conditions
for repressed popular anger to turn to religious zealotry. These regimes
stoke theocratic hate mongering since freeing their societies is not conceivable
and could turn counter-productive. Till that changes, pan Islamic extremism
will always remain a threat. And a process of transformation cannot begin
unless, among other things, America starts sternly lecturing its Arab friends
about democracy and freedom. Operation Enduring Freedom is being conducted
via the US courting a few regimes, including that in our neighbourhood,
which can endure only by denying freedoms. The longer America takes to
recognise the fact, the worse it will be for its own ultimate national
interests.
