Round The World

New Delhi, 27 January 2010

US Defence Secy’s Visit

CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MISSION

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies, JNU

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates’ recently-concluded official trip to India and neighbouring Pakistan can be summed up as a confidence-building exercise, notwithstanding the two destinations are in different stages of growth and share a different relationship with the United States. While India is being projected as one of the fastest growing economies and an emerging major player in the international arena, Pakistan is largely seen as a country on the brink of implosion, under attack from the same sinister groups that it helped nurture. India is recognized as a responsible nuclear-armed country showing utmost restraint even in the wake of a catastrophe like 26/11.

On the other hand, the picture of Pakistan is complex. It seems to be bearing the brunt of major terrorist attacks on its soil but at the same time has been accused of being reluctant to fight sections of the insurgents, particularly those with the intention to harm Indian interests. Moreover, concerns have been expressed that the conditions in Pakistan are not conducive for the safety and security of its nuclear weapons, with fear mounting of the weapons falling into terrorists’ hands. Thus, the nature and the purpose of the visits to India and Pakistan were different but on the whole could be seen as confidence-building measures on both sides of the border.

The US is involved with India and Pakistan at different planes and the nature of the relationship is dictated by the importance that both the countries hold in America’s engagement in the region. India and the US experienced a thaw in their relations during the closing years of the Clinton Administration, significantly taken forward during the Bush Administration. Otherwise discredited for his misadventures, George W. Bush helped open up an international platform for India in the form of the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG)-waiver.

These diplomatic milestones entailed increased defence trade, military exercises and the importance accorded to India in the Asian and international scheme of things. In a way, the Bush Administration was successful in highlighting and concentrating on the points of convergence and tone down irritants. In recent times, President Obama’s succession brought some concerns in the Indian diplomatic circles, with highlight accorded to non-proliferation goals. Moreover, in view of the economic ties between the US and China, the Obama Administration went to the extent of hinting at a prospective Chinese role in the Indian subcontinent. Any overt tilt towards Beijing, particularly in matters concerning the South Asian region is sure to ignite serious concerns in New Delhi.  

But, efforts made to dispel the misunderstandings have yielded results. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s India visit last July was a significant step in this effort. The visit, coming after much negative speculations, managed to infuse a lot of positive energy. Besides signing official agreements, Secretary Clinton engaged in public diplomacy meeting people from across wide areas of interests. Then, the icing on the cake came in the form of the State welcome given to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House and the extra mile that President Obama walked to dispel the fears and misconceptions on the Indian side.

In the context of these developments, the Gates’ visit assumes importance as a way to further cement the relationship and keep the channels open. This is the first high-level visit from the US administration in the New Year and the also the first after the Singh’s state visit to Washington. It is also being seen as a spade-work before the upcoming visit by President Obama. The US Defence Secretary chose to recognize India’s controlled resilience after the Mumbai attacks but amplified the sinister network that was ought to disturb peace in the region. He commented that New Delhi’s patience could be limited in the event of a similar attack in future, thus calling attention to the need for jointly tackling the terror nexus operating from Afghanistan-Pakistan.

The visit also culminated in the American proposal to New Delhi to sign the Communications Inter-Operability and Security Memorandum of Understanding (CISMOA) and the Logistic Supplies Agreement (LSA). These agreements, if realized according to the US administration would entail better access to American high technology. The visiting Secretary assured that the advantages that India would get from these agreements would be spelt out in detail. In short, the LSA leads to provision of air and sea ports to each other on reciprocal basis and the CISMOA will provide for sharing of information by enabling an easier interface between the militaries of the two countries.

India is reluctant to sign them and as emphasized by the Defence Minister AK Antony, New Delhi would consider entering into the pacts only after weighing the pros and cons. The Defence Minister also expressed India’s concerns regarding the denial of export licenses to various defence-related purchases. Nevertheless, the defence ties between the two countries are burgeoning. Reflecting this, there are talks of supply of several military equipment including C-17 transport aircraft, artillery guns and US companies are bidding for Indian defence contracts for $9 billion 126 multi-role combat aircraft.

Pakistan has time and again served as the frontline state for the United States engagement in the region as a result of its geostrategic location, either against Communism or Terrorism. This was made easier by Pakistan’s willingness to compromise for the sake of building its military infrastructure against arch-enemy India. Pakistan is an indispensable part of the American campaign in Afghanistan, much depending on how the Pakistani army fights the “terror womb” in its western border.

A large part of the Pakistan visit was devoted to ensuring its public and the establishment that the US was committed to bringing peace and security to the region, that it would not abandon the region as it did in the past when the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989. Concerns have risen since President Obama’s decision to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan by July 2011. There has been visible and rising anti-Americanism in Pakistan amid the increasing drone attacks in militant hideouts of Pakistan. There have been an unprecedented number of attacks following a deadly militant attack on a CIA base in Afghanistan, December last year.

During his stay in Pakistan, Gates engaged in vigorous public diplomacy including television interviews and a newspaper op-ed in an effort to drive the point that the Americans were engaged in fighting a common enemy. He emphasized that the Indian involvement in Afghanistan was entirely focused on developmental efforts and should not be a cause of worry for Pakistan. He contended that the Pakistan army should focus on fighting the imminent danger on its western border dismissing the perceptions of threat from the Indian border.

The Pakistan army has often been wanting in its commitment to fight groups that do not pose a direct threat to its State, and this is exactly where the Obama Administration needs to convince the Pakistani establishment. Such double standards adopted by the Pakistani army and intelligence has resulted in sinister terror campaigns against India, thus derailing bilateral relations and nipping in the bud any chances of stability. --- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)