From September 6-8, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis held the inaugural India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue. The talks were mostly dominated by defense agreements and alliances, and raised serious concerns for the whole South Asian region.
India has been designated a Major Defense Partner (MDP) of the US, which has committed the US to expand the scope of military cooperation with India. The rapid growth in bilateral arms trade and the qualitative improvement in levels of technology and equipment offered by the United States to India in recent years is evidence of this ever-growing cooperation.
The signing of a Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) will facilitate access to advanced defense systems and enable India to utilize optimally its existing US-origin arms platforms. The two countries announced that they were ready to begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex that would support closer defense-industry cooperation and collaboration between India and US.
All of these developments will enhance India’s military supremacy in the region but will destabilize regional security. It might force neighboring countries to increase their defense budgets.
India has a track record of hostile attitudes toward its smaller neighbors. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh are all under pressure to increase their defense budgets in the name of deterrence. Meanwhile the whole region including India itself is suffering from the curse of poverty, with many people facing a lack of adequate food, clean drinking water, toilets and sanitation, health care and basic education. If an arms race starts, it might have adverse impacts on the social sector of the whole region, including India.
During the Soviet era, India was a close ally, receiving maximal assistance from the USSR in the early years of independence, but when Moscow was no longer in a position to help New Delhi, India changed affiliations and started tending toward the US. Currently, India is the second-biggest beneficiary of US assistance after Israel. But will the US be in a position to assist India forever? The US economy is not in very good shape, and tending toward decline.
The US may not be strict toward India on its imports from Iran, knowing that India depends on that country for its energy needs. But if this is accepted as a valid reason, it will open new avenues for sanction waivers for other nations as well, especially Japan and in Europe.
If India is allowed to go ahead and acquire S-400 missile systems from Russia, how one can justify the case of Turkey? The US has refused to deliver F-35s to Turkey, which also wants S-400. The US unilaterally canceled military training for Pakistan’s armed forces (not the first time the US has acted unilaterally). As a result, Pakistan may collaborate with other friendly countries and the US should not have any objection.
The Coalition Support Fund (CSF) is based on the amount of money Pakistan spent fighting against terrorism, and it wanted to be reimbursed. Being a partner with the US in the “war on terror,” Pakistan was fighting a US war. The unilateral cancellation of US$300 million in CSF reimbursements may also have a very negative impact on Pakistan’s fragile economy. It might also harm its capacity to fight against terrorism.
The US is prepared to give India a role in Afghanistan, which may not be a rational approach. Unlike Pakistan, India is far away from Afghanistan and has no cultural, historical, religious or ethnic links with it.
The US political system is well structured and there are checks and balances at many levels. I hope that the the US Congress, academicians, intelligentsia, think-tanks and civil and military bureaucracy think rationally and come up with better options for peace and security in South Asia.
Kunwar Singh we are already fencing it
Rajiv Nayan your own 8 commandos got killed in that terrible surgical strike on out border check post
We dont plan to do any gazwa -e-hind kind of mumbo jumbo so nobody needs to feel threatened by India .We are just bolstering our defence to deter any adventurism from the "iron brothers ". …So we are no threat to any nation in Asia.everyone knows the new sheriff in Asia and it’s sidekick who keep making threatening noises. We are and will always be a peaceful nation.
Hamaad Hashmi we are used to a hostile Pakistan. It no longer worries us
Our problem is your latest abbu…China
You are a sidekick and the only worry you can cause is in case of a conflict with China you will jump in.to take advantage of the situation. Beyond that you are insignificant so don’t give yourself more credit than is due. But seeing that all three are nuclear nations a conflict will serve no one any good.
Pakistan is a delusional nation with a deep seated hatred for India fuelled by religious bigotry and venom infused over the generations.they can never be at peace with India no matter hoe much we try. India and Afghanistan have a long tradition and before partition it was common to see so many pathans in Indian cities. As a child I had a good friend with whom I grew up and he was an Afghan. Sadly after the Soviet invasion he went to Afghanistan and I never saw him again.
Zamir Awan for a nation whose defence and foreign policy is run by the army you talking of spending on social welfare schemes sounds hilarious. We want peace in south Asia but what about the terror camps operating from your soil ? The rattling of nuclear sabre every Friday? And the soon to be launched operation for khalistan …..
Syed Fazal Abbas please tell that to the ahmadiyas, the shias, the hazaras, the baloch and people in kpk and PoK .
Pakistan is playing a double edge sword remember where was binladen hiding this reality cannot be ignored
You have a lot in common with India but the bondage with us is much much more. The Balauchis , Sindhis , muhajirs , Pakhtuns , Punjabis etc. are very happy here and facing the terrorist activities from all fronts with resilience. India as your well wished should also commit soldiers to join NATO forces to help you all and in the meantime you can settle your brethren of four million who have enjoyed our hospitality for a very long time and are a burden on our resources. Your true friends I’m sure will help you.
But the frustration evident in your language tells a different story. It shows Pakistan is the biggest pain in the arse for India.
Dhiraj Tripathi you need to sit back, take a deep breath, remove the mask of hatred, forego twisting of facts, forget the textbook materials and write your statement again based on an unbiased analysis or the history. This may give you some peace of mind.