Harsha Kakar
The visit last week by Ashton Carter, the US Secretary of Defence to India, brought the two nations closer in defence cooperation, with the Indian government indicating its willingness to sign the modified Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), now termed as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). The visit also led to agreements on enhancing cooperation between the two navies, other than joint patrolling which India is hesitant to be involved with, being inked. In a reply to a question on the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, Carter stated that India and Pakistan are not two sides of the same relationship. He went on to add that the aircraft are meant for anti- terrorist operations in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). His words that the US relationship with Pakistan is primarily directed towards counter terrorism seemed hollow. No questions were raised on the sale of the AH- 1Z Viper Attack Helicopters, also announced recently, as logically they are ideal anti- terrorist merchandize.
Pakistan as a nation, is embroiled in terrorism, which is its own creation. Any military expert would agree that aircraft are unsuitable for anti- terrorist operations, while the attack helicopters are. However, a major concern is which groups does Pakistan target. It has never targeted the Afghan Taliban nor the Haqqani network, both of which attack NATO forces in Afghanistan, as also threaten the stability of the nation. Similarly, it never targets groups which attack India. Thus the equipment is for employment against groups which only threaten Pakistan. Therefore, logically the US unofficially supports the Pakistan policy of ‘Good and Bad Terrorism’.
The US is keen to build India as a counter weight to China,therefore, it desires closer military cooperation. China on the other hand seeks to build Pakistan as a counter weight to India, thus providing it with support and military hardware, compelling India to devote its resources and energy to enhance its military might. With the US also funding and providing Pakistan with military merchandize the conventional superiority that India enjoys is on the wane. Hence do US intentions truly remain honourable?
In the recently concluded Nuclear Security Summit, Obama placed both India and Pakistan on the same platter, when he shared his concerns about nuclear security. The comment which sparked Indian objection was his linking India’s cold start doctrine with Pakistan’s deployment spread of tactical nuclear weapons. India has never officially enunciated this doctrine. This is Pakistan’s rhetoric, aimed at justifying its nuclear deployment and has been accepted by the US. Thus whose words seem more acceptable to the US, India or Pakistan?
The Taliban has formally announced the launch of its warm weather fighting season. The same was announced by an email to the media recentlyand in all probability would result in a violent summer. This year the offensive has been termed as ‘Operation Omari’ in honour of its dead leader Mullah Omar. With official Pakistan support and no imminent crackdown, Afghanistan could expect much higher casualties this year as compared to about eleven thousand in 2015. The mollycoddling by the US has permitted Pakistan to continue harbouring the group, while it targets the NATO, operations against which it terms as a ‘holy obligation’.Indian investments and involvement would also be targeted.
Peace talks for settling the Afghanistan problem should involve India as it continues to be a major player in the region and would remain so, even with US withdrawal. However, due to Pakistan’s formal objections on the same, the US was compelled to keep India out of the group. Though India has been kept abreast of the progress by US and Afghanistan delegates, however, Pakistan’s objections have borne fruit. Thus, where its own interests are concerned, relations with India come secondary for the US.
Pakistan has continued its support to terror groups operating from its soil against India. In spite of India raking up the same with the US, no serious actions have been taken. Token comments and financial sanctions against individuals have in no way affected the groups as they have official military support. Military hardware from the US including binoculars and GPS’s have been found with terrorists killed or captured in India. In spite of being provided with evidence, sale of such equipment continues unabated. Therefore, US appears to ignore India’s objections while it continues to supply Pakistan.
The US formally considers India to be a ‘net security provider’ for the region. This would only be possible if India maintains a superior conventional military edge. However, with both the US and China continuing to support and build the capacity of Pakistan’s military, such a state only seems to be on paper. Thus there appears to be a gap between the desires of the US and actual reality.
The US, contrary to India, prefers to deal with the Pakistani military rather than their civilian leadership, as they are aware of the stranglehold it possess on the nation. This support enables the military which controls the ISI, as also security and foreign policy directed towards India from continuing its anti- India operations unhindered. The desire of their civil leadership to engage with India in a fruitful manner is regularly stalled on some pretext or the other, thereby peace talks neither progress nor any positive signals emanate from their end.
Therefore, while the US may appear to be genuinely seeking closer cooperation with India, its actions nullify the same. Its proximity and unstinted support to the Pakistan military including provision of armaments gives them the freedom to target innocents in India and Afghanistan, employing state sponsored terrorism. ThismisconstruedUS strategy will only result in greater casualties in the future. India needs to be wary and carefully choose partnership in areas of mutual concern, while pressing the US to understand the flaws in their outlook to the region.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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