Pakistan and India should keep US at bay

The world of politics, like the world of business, is rife with middlemen. And sensible nations would be well advised to be wary of them. They are the ones who make the minimum investments but walk away with the biggest gains.

In the scenario of India-Pakistan tension that is currently being played out, the US is once again showing that it likes both sides of its bread generously buttered. The US administration is the quintessential double agent who is playing both India and Pakistan off against each other so that its interests are served.

India has presented Pakistan with a dossier containing evidence that the terrorist attacks on November 26 were initiated from across the border. Pakistan has, in turn, stated that the data is not credible. This suggests that both sides are back to the drawing board. But they should be aware of US involvement or, in this case, the lack of it.

Taking the dossier to Washington and hoping for a positive nudge from the White House would be a waste of time and effort for India. Expected diplomatic gains from this would be minimal as the US does not want to be distracted from its campaign in Afghanistan which is being supported by Pakistan. And Pakistan in turn should be conscious that their so-called ally is yearning to make significant gains from the Indian economy even as their own enters into recession.

In this scenario it is perhaps important for both India and Pakistan to initiate the processes of direct dialogue: trust each other. At the very best it would present a clearer picture and set the pace for credible gains and solutions for both countries. The people of both nations bear the burden of terrorism and the governments need to work together to purge that threat.

I agree with the author on this situation. India and Pakistan should go for dialogues.The third party should not be allowed to gain anything from the situation in both the countries. We never understand such issues initially, but when a third party with vested interests is involved, we begin to see a different picture.
Om Prakash Sharma
Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates
Posted: January 08, 2009, 18:13