Editorial: What After Obama’s New Af-Pak Policy?

…it’s time of doing what we’ve not done so far, instead of deploring the US. Indian concerns are regarding possible resurge of Taliban and their strategic use by Pakistan against us. What India needs is more participation in Afghanistan, connecting with majority Pasthun community there which holds key to the power, and dealing with Pakistan independently…

What US President Barack Obama said while announcing his new Af-Pak policy is in no way unexpected. Obama, when he assumed office, was happy to inherit a dateline to withdraw American troops from Iraq. His job was Afghanistan, concluding an eight year long war as graciously as possible. And as number of US soldiers went up in Afghansitan instantly after his taking charge, it clearly suggested that he wanted to speed up finishing of American job to withdraw from there soon. The further addition of 30,000 troops is part of that strategy, that will achieve destruction of militant bases and training of more locals for army so that after US soldiers go away, Afghan army is equipped, skilled enough to not let Taliban rise again. The way Obama’s Afghan policy has been received in India is very sad. It suggests that India hopes an eternal American presence there. Well, Indian fears and anxieties – that Taliban, who would now rather hide in caves, might rise again and act against us – have merit, but our criticism of Obama shows how badly we are banking on the US for solution of our own problems.

Obama’s decision is one that is based on growing anti-war sentiments in the US, depleting economy, mid term elections in 2010 and presidential polls in 2012. We, in India, knew all this in advance but turned blind eyes to what Obama would do in future. Right, sending more troops and announcing timeline for withdrawal mean appeasing both pro-war and anti-war lobbies, both within and outside the US; it, coupled with no more blank cheques to Kabul, means helping American economy; and planning unmanned drone attacks in Pakistan – now a safe haven for militants as was Afghanistan – while offering it aids confirm that Obama’s focus is totally on American national interest that its foreign policy. In India, it’s time of doing what we’ve not done so far, instead of deploring the US. Indian concerns are regarding possible resurge of Taliban and their strategic use by Pakistan against us. In the face of this, what India needs is more participation in Afghanistan, connecting with majority Pasthun community there which holds key to the power, and dealing with Pakistan independently.

Yes, Pakistan has been critical of Indian presence in Afghanistan and any more involvement could further anger Islamabad. But at the same time, this could be a key to strike a workable peace deal with it. Pakistan is expected not to use terrorists against India only when India has strong presence in Afghanistan, not America. And when it can convince Islamabad that India wants peace in the region, including Pakistan.
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