US President�s Visit to India and Pakistan�s Counter-Terrorist Policy Initiatives

Abstract:  President Obama, having placed Pakistan on a subtle warning, against terror attacks, further snubbed it by not raising the Kashmir issue during his visit to India. Pakistan may toe the US line for a while lest its multi-billion dollar aid from the US is threatened, but its commitment to fighting terror is suspect.

President Barack Obama became the first US president to visit India twice. Besides being the chief guest at Republic Day Parade, Mr Obama's three-day visit was aimed at elevating and strengthening the ties between the world's two largest democracies. It was heralded by several billion dollar deals, defence contracts and breakthrough in civil nuclear agreement.

President Obama using his executive powers resolved the seven year-old impasse on the civil nuclear deal, ensuring its successful operationlisation. Besides, number of defence deals including identification of key “pathfinder projects” for joint development and production were signed. Slew of initiatives that included $ 4 billion in loans, $2 billion in financing for renewable energy projects and additional $1 billion for project financing were approved.  

During the complete course of the visit including farewell speech by Mr Obama at Siri Fort Auditorium, the mention of US’s long term ally Pakistan or its much propagated agenda of ‘Kashmir’ was conspicuous by its absence. On the contrary, Pakistan was placed under watch with a subtle warning by the US of dire ‘consequences’, if any terrorist attack was traced to it during President Obama’s visit to India. Pakistan historically had always hiked terrorist activities in India whenever a US leader was visiting New Delhi, apparently to highlight / internationalise the Kashmir issue. The snub by the US and fizzling hype of Kashmir may prove a bit sobering for Pakistan and hard to swallow.

The proclaimed new willingness (just prior to the US President’s visit to India) of the Pakistan Government to attack both the Taliban and Haqqani Network insurgents and not "differentiate between good Taliban and bad Taliban" is absolutely hogwash, as the US Government forced Pakistan to review its counter terrorist policies with the threat that it would withhold its multi-billion dollar aid to it. The internal turmoil, energy crisis with 80 % of the country in darkness, no fuel and a very fragile economy leaves Pakistan with little choice but to submit, though unwillingly, to the wishes of the US. However, the shift in the Pakistan’s policies seemingly is a temporary stance, till it gets the multi-billion dollar aid from USA. The recent belligerent attitude of the US Government towards Pakistan can be partially attributed to the inflexible and uncompromising approach of India towards duality of US Policy in the region, making it clear to the West that it has to choose between a democratic India or a terror-propagating Pakistan.

Great trust deficit exists between the international community and Pakistan due to its duality of policies and deceitful commitments. The sincerity of Pakistan in showing 'sustained commitment,'" against Islamist militants as a paradigm shift in its policy can only be established overtime. But, historically, any policy initiatives taken by Pakistan have been more cosmetic and token, sans any effect. Thus, it would be prudent for India to maintain its guard until Pakistan’s credibility is proved unequivocally. The probability of Pakistan shunning to employ its proxies against India is most unlikely, as at no time would it like to project that it has been intimated and coerced into submission by the US at the beckoning of India to stop cross border terrorist activities. As regards US, Pakistan has numerous mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted flow of financial and military aid from it.

The author is Senior Fellow at CLAWS. Views expressed are personal.