Author: Sridhar Krishnaswami
Publication: The Hindu
Date: September 27, 2001
Introduction: War on Terrorism /
Action against other groups later
The Bush administration has made
it clear that there is absolutely no change in its relations with India;
and that the operations against Osama bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda outfit
he heads are not the end of the story. After this is over, the U.S. will
set its eyes on other terror groups, including those operating in Jammu
and Kashmir.
In the aftermath of the attacks
on New York and Washington on September 11, as part of the determination
to step up the war on terrorism, a number of questions have come up as
far as South Asia is concerned. One of them being the implications for
Indo- U.S. relations if Pakistan comes closer to the United States. Besides,
there is the question of Washington's commitment on fighting other terrorist
outfits.
It is understood that many of these
issues came up for discussion in the last two days when India's National
Security Advisor, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, was in town for meetings with senior
officials of the Bush administration. Mr. Mishra held talks with his counterpart,
Dr. Condoleeza Rice, the Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy,
Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage,
and the U.S. Trade Representative, Mr. Robert Zoellick.
There is concern in Indian circles
whether winning the war against Osama bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda would
be the end of the game. The point being conveyed is that there could be
no distinction between the Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups and that
any temptation to make a distinction would lead to mistakes and long-term
damage.
U.S. officials are aware of such
apprehensions; but at the same time they are trying to impress upon New
Delhi the compulsions of the administration and Congress which for all
practical purposes are not glued to the problems of Jammu and Kashmir at
this time. And New Delhi, for its part, appears to be sensitive to the
ground realities here.
Mr. Mishra's talks with senior
officials and top law- makers in Capitol Hill have generally been described
as frank and forthcoming. While not mentioning Pakistan directly, Mr. Mishra
is believed to have stressed cross border terrorism and India's wholehearted
cooperation in fighting the scourge. ``Mishra reiterated India's unconditional
offer of assistance to the global coalition against terrorism,'' the State
Department's Deputy Spokesman, Mr. Philip Reeker, remarked.
What has to be kept in mind in India
is that there are reasons why certain outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir
have been omitted in the White House list. It is not because Washington
is unaware of the happenings in that part of the world. The executive order
of the President targeting 27 entities, organisations and individuals are
Osama and Al-Qaeda specific. In this current squeeze on the Al-Qaeda, known
terror outfits of West Asia such as Hamas and the Hezbollah have been left
out. The immediate focus is on terror outfits with a global reach.
