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Either one will do for us - India-US ties are not hostage to new President
The Pioneer ^ | Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | Editorial

Posted on 11/06/2012 11:01:09 AM PST by Jyotishi

As Americans count the last of the votes to determine who will lead their country for the next four years, Indians too are understandably keen to find out who will be the next US President, and of course how he will steer bilateral relations between the two countries. But while the average American remains glued to his television as Election Day there draws to a close, Indians need not stress about the results. Irrespective of whether it is incumbent President Barack Obama, who secures himself a second term in the White House or his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who wins the closely contested race, it is highly unlikely that relations between New Delhi and Washington, DC will see any reversal in fortunes. Indeed, the American Administration has made a strong bipartisan commitment to maintaining robust ties with India. Most political observers in India and the US agree that there is a consensus between the Democrats and the Republicans that India is good for America and, therefore, America has all the reason to be good to India. Those still in doubt must be reminded of the third presidential debate between Mr Obama and Mr Romney that dealt with US foreign policy and in which India was not mentioned even once. The reason: Not indifference to India, as some had argued, but the fact that there was nothing contentious to debate about US policies towards India.

There are several factors which contribute towards strengthening the India-US relationship. Primary among this is of course the economic one. The US is still struggling to come out of the debilitating financial crisis of 2007-2008. While the numbers have improved to a certain extent, the road to full recovery is long and arduous, and one which will no doubt see increased US dependence on developing markets such as India. Another important determinant of bilateral ties between India and the US is the geo-strategic factor. In this regard, the US views India as perhaps one of its strongest allies in this region — a fact that was made amply clear by the Obama Administration when it launched its ‘Pivot to Asia' military strategy early this year with India as the ‘lynchpin' of that strategy. Designed to contain the belligerence of a fast-growing China, the doctrine is possibly one of the most important cementing factors in the India-US relationship. In fact, it is not only with regard to China but also with respect to the situation in Afghanistan that the US is looking to India for regional support. Having said that, it would be foolhardy to expect any dramatic leap forward in India-US ties. The relationship  is likely to further cement over time, with Mr Obama or without Mr Obama at the helm.

And, regardless of what Mr Romney had been belligerently claiming with regards to tightening the screws on Pakistan, the fact remains that neither he nor Mr Obama as President will do much to destabilise the working relationship between the US and Pakistan. The reason is that the US desperately needs Islambad’s help in Afghanistan. Therefore, while there will be moments of friction — like the ones in the aftermath of the killing of Osama bin Laden or the death of Pakistani soliders in a US-led Nato attack, the US will continue to pamper Pakistan with monetary and other forms of assistance, for now.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: india; obama; pakistan; romney

1 posted on 11/06/2012 11:01:14 AM PST by Jyotishi
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To: Jyotishi

Sure, they won’t care until hussein starts treating them like he has Israel.


2 posted on 11/06/2012 11:05:48 AM PST by bgill (Evil doers are in every corner of our government. Have we passed the point of no return?)
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To: Jyotishi

Beware India.

If we get a real American for president, you can rest easy.

If we get the lying, piece of excrement Muslim for president, you’d better start building more (ptui-ptui) Mosques.

(Or maybe not, depending upon when CW-II starts,)


3 posted on 11/06/2012 11:12:55 AM PST by Da Coyote
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To: bgill

Maybe you didn’t get the memo but Obama has already put India under the bus long ago. Thing is, India isn’t a tiny little country like Israel to worry too much about the outcome of an American election. Its not like India has never found herself on the wrong side of US before, for no fault of theirs.


4 posted on 11/06/2012 12:01:28 PM PST by ravager
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To: Da Coyote

You really think the fear of a “nobody” like Obama can get the Hindus to start building mosques in a hurry?


5 posted on 11/06/2012 12:04:41 PM PST by ravager
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To: Jyotishi
What this article is actually trying to say is ......NEITHER one will do for us.
6 posted on 11/06/2012 12:08:28 PM PST by ravager
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To: bgill; Jyotishi

this is wishful thinking — O already disrespects India...


7 posted on 11/07/2012 7:53:33 AM PST by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Cronos

And Hussein will continue to disrespect India until India becomes a Muslim-majority country.


8 posted on 11/07/2012 8:28:37 AM PST by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: Jyotishi

We will see now who becomes a Muslim country faster, India or the US. I hope you had a fun election. /s


9 posted on 11/07/2012 2:41:36 PM PST by ravager
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To: ravager

Yeah the election was great fun. /sarc


10 posted on 11/07/2012 8:38:00 PM PST by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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