Kashmir: The US Factor
17 Aug, 2001 · 544
Chintamani Mahapatra suggests that while India continues its opposition to third party mediation, it is time to push for an Indo-American cooperative role in tackling terrorism
The Congress Party has pointed out that
US
pressure induced Prime Minister Vajpayee to invite President Musharraf for the summit in
Agra
. Earlier there were reports about
US
pressure on
Pakistan
to hold a dialogue with
India
and normalize relations. While it would be wrong to exaggerate
Washington
’s role and influence in sub-continental affairs, there is little doubt that it has shown greater interest in South Asian affairs now than before.
South Asia
suddenly rose in priority for the
United States
after 1998 following the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests.
South Asia
was a blow to American non-proliferation policies.
Washington
also began to be concerned with this development because of the unremitting Indo-Pakistan strategic rivalry revolving around
Kashmir
.
Pakistan
does not recognize the State’s accession to
India
; it has occupied about a third of its territory and has ceded a portion to
China
. When Pakistani leaders failed to achieve their objective in
Kashmir
by war, they launched a low intensity armed conflict in the Valley in 1989 by supporting terrorist and militant elements. This Pakistani-backed proxy war has been continuing for over twelve years with no end in sight.
Washington
appears to have a genuine concern with
Kashmir
becoming a nuclear flashpoint, unless this problem is resolved. Over the years, the
US
has pursued a policy that is not acceptable simultaneously to
India
and
Pakistan
. Hence its motives have been viewed with suspicion in
Islamabad
and
New Delhi
. But the
US
has expressed interest in playing a constructive role if
India
and
Pakistan
would agree.
Pakistan
is not averse to the idea of an American role, because this would vindicate its position that
Kashmir
is a disputed territory.
India
is against any third party mediation on an issue that it considers to be its internal matter. This deadlock has not discouraged
Washington
from seeking a role in the region. There may thus be an element of truth in the perception that, but for the
US
pressure, the Agra Summit may not have been possible.
Washington
before the Agra Summit. The
Kashmir
issue must have figured in their talks with the Bush Administration officials. Following the Agra Summit, Assistant Secretary of State, Christina Rocca, visited
India
and
Pakistan
and must have gathered information on the summit.
US
Secretary of State, Colin Powell, recently offered his good offices to resolve the
Kashmir
issue. President George Bush reportedly vowed to pursue “freedom and tolerance” from “Kosovo to
Kashmir
”. Unlike in the past, these statements did not cause any reactions in the Indian media.
Kashmir
issue has become a popular theme for research and discussion in several American think tanks. There is a Kashmir Study Group in
Georgetown
University
's Centre for International Strategic Studies. The Stimson Centre has encouraged and funded fellowships, studies and research on the
Kashmir
issue. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies in
Washington
has initiated a Kashmir Discussion Series, which holds meetings to debate and discuss issues, including Kashmiri politics, economics and potential solutions to the problem. In addition, Kashmiri Groups and Pakistani Americans in the
US
ensure that the
Kashmir
issue is discussed in the US Congress. Kashmiri leaders, including the Hurriyat leaders, visit the
US
and make speeches in well-known universities. The role of these groups in influencing policy-making circles in the
US
should not be underestimated.
US
envoy for
Kashmir
in his speech at
Stanford
University
in 1998, more than sixty
US
legislators wrote a letter to President Bill Clinton urging the same. More recently, Yasin Malik, an executive member of the APHC, was a guest speaker at a seminar on
Kashmir
in
Harvard
University
where he was introduced as a freedom fighter.
India
has to contend with the fact that the
Kashmir
issue has priority in the
US
agenda. With the passing days, the
US
factor in
Kashmir
affair is becoming increasingly complex. The US Government is no longer the sole actor. It is one thing to claim that
Kashmir
is an internal affair of
India
. But, in a globalizing world, solutions to internal problems are no longer internal. Cross-border terrorism is the best example of an internal problem acquiring an external dimension. And the non-state actors across the Indian border are spread across the world, not just
Pakistan
.
India
continues its opposition to third party mediation, it is time to push for an Indo-American cooperative role in tackling terrorism.
The overt nuclearization of
Both the Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministers visited
The
It is no coincidence that one year after the Hurriyat leader, Mirwaiz Farooq, suggested the appointment of a special
While