India-U.S.: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship?

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India-U.S.: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship?

An India-U.S. alliance: It has long been one of the missing links in Washington's Asian diplomacy. During the Cold War, America backed Pakistan, while India turned to the Russians. Years later, President Bill Clinton's 2000 trip to India promised to rekindle a relationship. Then came September 11, and the war in Afghanistan again compelled Washington to seek out Islamabad as a key ally.

But a strong alliance with India may be developing much faster than was thought possible even at the turn of the year. The U.S. needs all the allies it can acquire in the war on terrorism, and it's willing to risk Pakistan's ire to enlist India to the cause. India, long looking for a U.S. friendship, is happy to oblige. The result could be one of the biggest new engagements in U.S. statecraft in years as America supplies India with arms, builds a strategic relationship, and moves India permanently into the U.S. sphere. "Decades of stultifying standard operating procedures are being put aside in both Washington and New Delhi," says U.S. Ambassador to India Robert D. Blackwill. "The train is picking up speed."

Events of the last few weeks show just how strong the U.S. commitment is getting. The Indians are buying some major military hardware from the Pentagon. April saw the $140 million purchase of advanced Raytheon battery radar systems, the first military sale by Washington to New Delhi in almost a decade. The system can track enemy shelling and will be deployed along the border with Pakistan. India's hawkish ruling Bharatiya Janata Party may spend up to $2 billion a year on U.S. equipment.

Arms sales are part of a wider defense partnership. In mid-May, U.S. forces will land on Indian soil for joint training exercises with Indian commandos in Agra. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is providing fueling and other logistical support to U.S. ships, including those involved in the Afghan war. India's Central Bureau of Investigation is helping the FBI track down sources of terrorist funding. Indian warships are even joining U.S. forces in antipiracy and antiterrorist patrols as far afield as the strategic Malacca Straits. "We are finding ourselves in a new role not confined to South Asia," says Defense Secretary Yogendra Narain.

While India is proving helpful to the U.S. in the war against terror, one unanswered question is how useful India will prove in containing China. The Indian military Establishment has never gotten over China's 1962 invasion of northern India and sees China as even a bigger threat, over the long run, than Pakistan. Although tension between the U.S. and China has eased, the original suspicions of the Bush Administration against Chinese expansionism have not receded. The Indians have expressed enthusiasm for the Pentagon's missile defense shield, should it ever materialize. China, say analysts, would view such a system as a challenge to its power.

Will the U.S.-Indian relationship solidify into something as enduring as the American-Japanese alliance? Much depends on how Washington handles the deadly enmity between Pakistan and India, which hugely complicates the State Dept.'s work. "The Indians think if we're helping Pakistanis, it means we're going to be working less with India, and vice versa," says one State Dept. official. What the Americans hope to do is restrain both the Pakistanis and Indians from escalating their conflict again, especially over the disputed territory of Kashmir. That's a situation as bloody as anything in the Middle East and will test America's diplomatic skills for years, if not decades, to come.

By Manjeet Kripalani in Bombay and Mark L. Clifford in Hong Kong

EDITED BY Edited by Christopher Power

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indexing.

[elmer fudd]

If we're going to continue a policy of interventionism in the middle east, at some point we're going to have to choose sides in this and India is obviously the right side. While we might have a somewhat sympathetic government in Pakistan right now, the Pakistani people basically hate us and it's only a matter of time before they have a government that reflects that hate.

Also we need a counterweight to China in the area, and what better counterweight than a country of 1 billion people with two common enemies, (radical Islam and communist China).

[swarthyguy]

You've been reading & listening to too many of the 'liberal' indian intelligentsia and the Congress Party; stalwarts of Indian socialism and muslim appeasers.

[AM2000]

You've been reading & listening to too many of the 'liberal' indian intelligentsia and the Congress Party

Indian politics may be fragmented, but it has two big players - the ruling BJP and the Congress. Given that to be the case, what's so wrong with listening to what the Congress has to say and factoring it in to our calculations? These 'liberals' might be the next government of India, and their foreign policy will likely reflect their ideology.

[swarthyguy]

You want the socialist Congress back in India? And they go straight back to a pro-arab appeasement policy as they did for 50 years. They are anti-freemarket types who still believe in a Fabian socialism.

[AM2000]

You want the socialist Congress back in India?

I never said what I want :) I simply said that its a distinct likelihood that they'll be back in power eventually, so we have to keep that in mind. Getting too deep in bed with the Indians under the BJP may only be setting ourselves up for a disappointment when the Congress is back. And they will be back, you can bank on it.

They are anti-freemarket types who still believe in a Fabian socialism.

True, but they do have a lot going for them if they can go back to their pre-dynasty roots. The original Congress, with its emphasis on secularism and tolerance (as opposed to the BJP) can make for a much more stable and secure India than the current band of yahoos can. But that's if they can chuck the Gandhis.

[Sonny M]

India used to dislike the U.S. for supporting Pakistan (its islamic enemy) and also showing support for China (another rival). India used to show support for the soviets (a nation with a nasty habit of attacking countries that defied it). The socialists in India never liked the U.S. Ironically, the Nationalists, and Hindu religious fundamentalists do like the U.S. When I was there last year. It was odd meeting religious extremists, who supported the U.S. totally. (mostly because they viewed the war on terror as a war on islam).

[dinok]

You are right on the money. India is a greater strategic partner than anyone around. I just hope we dont screw it up.

[swarthyguy]

when the Congress is back

I hope not. The US does not want to see the Congress back; it'll be a disaster for inja.

that's if they can chuck the Gandhis. The next Congress PM would be Sonia Gandhi, the Italian born wife of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, assasinated by suicidal LTTE's. The institutional pressures on her will force her to adhere to the traditional 'non-aligned' type of policies. The BJP despite your opinion of them as nutcases, is still the best hope for India because of the their Pro-US, free-market ideology.

[swarthyguy]

Why don't you go work the SouthAsia Desk at FoggyBottom? They could use you; they certainly need you. :))

[Joe Boucher]

For years India has been experiencing an inferiority complex. They aren't in the stupid position of Poland, in the middle of the two most warring nations in the last 100 years, Germany and Russia but almost. They are like the ignored illrelevant neighbor.They have lots of people and few resources and no one cares. Then they acquire nukes as does Pakistan and after 60 years of poking their finger in the eye of America to show them India is ok they finally discover the virtues of America. Now they want to be buddies? Piss off mate. The only thing is that Pakistan is even worse. Hopefully they nuke each oter and end their own misery.

[mikeIII]

Piss off mate. The only thing is that Pakistan is even worse. Hopefully they nuke each oter and end their own misery.

Ah, words of wisdom gushing forth!

[mikeIII]

India simply seems to dislike the US strongly on principle.

This was true in the past. Then it became suspicion and, over the past decade or so, it has become a cautios wariness. It has everything to do with coddling Pakistan which has been exporting terror to India for 50 years. The not-a-zero-sum relationship with these two countries won't work. I suspect this will come to a test sooner than later!

[hinckley buzzard]

Let me share part of a letter from an Indian friend, an American-trained engineer who returned home to help build India:

"It is often said that INDIA & AMERICA (USA) are natural allies with common background, and common social political and philosophical commitments."

"Both are the largest and greatest democracies. Democracy is the latest political tool for human justice and dignity. This being so both countries should be the thickest of friends."

"But it was not so in the past 53 years of Indian independence, due to so many political and selfish reasons."

"In March 2000 Bill Clinton visited India for about 5 days and brought about a new direction to our relationships. The American tilt away from India has now been tilted towards India, after his visit. Our Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee visited USA in Sep 2000."

"There is now a new ROMANCE between our countries. Let us nurture it and make it grow bold and beautiful. Also the alliances between USA, China Russia India and Pakistan are undergoing a change."

"On 20th January 2001 Bush will take over from Clinton. We are sure that the newfound romance between our two countries will continue and grow under Bush too."

"We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy NewYear. We also wish you a happy Pongal & Sankaranthi!"

"(signed) Kushala & Chandra."

"Dated: 18th December 2000."

There are a host of Indians who like America just fine.