America invites India to play umpire in World Politics
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is one of the ardent supporters of India. Her visit to New Delhi for the second round of the India-US strategic dialogue was important to manage the differences that have arisen over time - from the nuclear liability law to defence contracts, from alleged misconduct of diplomats to blocking India from opening a new consulate in Seattle.
America is eager to see India loom larger on the world stage. Clinton's basic message was "We Want More India" in the world - in Southeast Asia, in the Indian Ocean, in Afghanistan, in the Middle East, in Central Asia, in Latin America.
During her visit, both Clinton and her Indian counterparts covered every area of "human endeavour". From space to clean energy, from student internships to creating an open source data platform on e-governance, from disease detection to aviation safety, every important issue was discussed. India has very reason to be happy to witness the extent to which its relationship with America has developed. America has shown willingness to discuss the world with India with an aim to push India to assume greater responsibility in world affairs. It is now up to New Delhi to seize the opportunity, or not.
The best thing is America is beginning to treat India as an equal partner. The trilateral dialogue of India, the US and Japan, announced during Clinton's visit, is significant and a perfect venue to discuss China's rise and the attendant ripples.
It is true that the regional situation is grim. America wants India to train Afghan security forces and play a role in shaping Afghanistan's future besides investing in infrastructure projects. But Pranab Mukherjee told Clinton last month India does not want to get involved in the "security affairs of Afghanistan".
Both India and the US have the same difficult task - bringing Pakistan on board. The overall US policy on Pakistan remains a series of confusing moves, alternately cajoling and berating. Just recently Pakistan's tendency to sweet-talk its way through the corridors of the US Congress to denounce India was exposed. Also exposed was the hypocrisy that often goes with Islamabad pleading Kashmir's cause in major capitals. That the Obama administration is chipping away at the ISI and seriously encircling it, at least within US jurisdiction, is good news.
Also welcome is growing India-US cooperation on counterterrorism. But the big takeaway from Clinton's visit has to be the full-throated American call for India to come out and dominate in International politics and not be afraid of the umpiring.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is one of the ardent supporters of India. Her visit to New Delhi for the second round of the India-US strategic dialogue was important to manage the differences that have arisen over time - from the nuclear liability law to defence contracts, from alleged misconduct of diplomats to blocking India from opening a new consulate in Seattle.
America is eager to see India loom larger on the world stage. Clinton's basic message was "We Want More India" in the world - in Southeast Asia, in the Indian Ocean, in Afghanistan, in the Middle East, in Central Asia, in Latin America.
During her visit, both Clinton and her Indian counterparts covered every area of "human endeavour". From space to clean energy, from student internships to creating an open source data platform on e-governance, from disease detection to aviation safety, every important issue was discussed. India has very reason to be happy to witness the extent to which its relationship with America has developed. America has shown willingness to discuss the world with India with an aim to push India to assume greater responsibility in world affairs. It is now up to New Delhi to seize the opportunity, or not.
The best thing is America is beginning to treat India as an equal partner. The trilateral dialogue of India, the US and Japan, announced during Clinton's visit, is significant and a perfect venue to discuss China's rise and the attendant ripples.
It is true that the regional situation is grim. America wants India to train Afghan security forces and play a role in shaping Afghanistan's future besides investing in infrastructure projects. But Pranab Mukherjee told Clinton last month India does not want to get involved in the "security affairs of Afghanistan".
Both India and the US have the same difficult task - bringing Pakistan on board. The overall US policy on Pakistan remains a series of confusing moves, alternately cajoling and berating. Just recently Pakistan's tendency to sweet-talk its way through the corridors of the US Congress to denounce India was exposed. Also exposed was the hypocrisy that often goes with Islamabad pleading Kashmir's cause in major capitals. That the Obama administration is chipping away at the ISI and seriously encircling it, at least within US jurisdiction, is good news.
Also welcome is growing India-US cooperation on counterterrorism. But the big takeaway from Clinton's visit has to be the full-throated American call for India to come out and dominate in International politics and not be afraid of the umpiring.
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