There is dealing and then there is dealing.
US and India alignment is not pure trade, it is far deeper.
It extends into SigInt, Cyber, CT in Kashmir, Intelligence sharing and most importantly China containment (other areas are energy, nuclear, market access, trade, immigration, culture, and education). Many of these elements work directly against our interests. Either we vociferously take that up with the Yanks (and take our time to build bridges there) or understand and accept the dynamic, and react accordingly. Short of this we'll over time loose any sense of independence and sovereignty in areas of foreign policy. The India Congressional Caucus is a powerful lobby, second only to the Israeli lobby, and please don't tell me that will not have a bearing on the future relationship.
How we cannot understand this dynamic and not consider its implications in both time of peace but also in times of war befuddles me. Modern machinery is temperamental and complex. Simple parts shortages can ground entire fleets. Advanced circuitry and control systems make programmatic and OEM oversight unflappable. In the rigor of war poor support will over time diminish war fighting capacity. Add to this Indian training against our fighting unit types, also can play into reduction of our fighting efficacy.
US has been very clear to us. In our discussions with them they have told us in clear terms that they expect not only South Asian but Pacific policy to be aligned with Indian interests. They have asked us to reduce temperature in Kashmir which we did. They were very upset with Moeed's and PTI strategy of vilifying Indian policies and BJPs Hinduvta tendencies which was slowly starting to take hold and raise questions around US's own Human Rights proclamations and its hypocrisy. This was and is diluting their efforts around Uyghirs. Pakistan has bent backwards in allaying US concerns regarding India. The result is India is getting bolder on all fronts.
Disinformation, funding of Pakistani politics, funding and planning Baluch insurgency, funding and planning of TTP and other groups, while pushing Pakistan outside of International mainstream in every conceivable channel from simple things like sports to global economic and political groups. The FATF white-listing was not because of India it was in-spite of India and with lots of help from others (not the US), and also by the mere fact that FATF needed to salvage some credibility of its independence.
India is playing consistently its Zero-Sum game, and we are the idiots for it.
I have said all I needed to on this topic.
Our efforts to liberate J&K have repeatedly failed because Indian military is not like ANA. American pressure on Pakistan to reduce temperature in J&K was to OUR BENEFIT because India was willing to attack Pakistan for this reason. Americans are of the view that this conflict can turn nuclear. Is this difficult to understand?
Do you think Americans love Modi and Hindutva? They do not, but see [1] below.
Do you think Khan (handsome) can isolate India? He cannot.
Outrage as UAE gives highest civilian medal to Modi days after India strips Kashmir’s special status and imposes curfew.
www.aljazeera.com
Business investment opportunities for Saudi Arabian investors to invest in India. Know about sectors, states, and FDI policy for Saudi Arabia
www.investindia.gov.in
[1] India is a democracy and does not suffer from political crisis. India has a functioning economy and purchasing power. Indian market is huge and lucrative. India keeps its distance from global conflicts and is not eager to please any camp.
How do you think Pakistan stack up in comparison?
- Corruption
- Political instability
- Dysfunctional economy and lack of purchasing power
- Militancy problem
- Tendency to blame others for everything bad in the country
- Anti-Americanism
Americans do not have a problem providing opportunities to Pakistani Public (more on this below) but they are put off by the above.
Pakistan had golden opportunity to reshape Afghanistan with USA but squandered it.
Moderate Afghans were perceived as a threat to Pakistani interests and Pakistan did everything possible to restore Afghan Taliban to power in Afghanistan but BLA and TTP continue to launch attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan. This shows that these organizations have localized economic arrangement(s) and do not rely upon India to function and do their bidding. Afghanistan is doing so well on the other hand.
A year on from the Taliban takeover in Kabul, Afghanistan is gripped by “cascading crises”, including a crippled economy that humanitarian aid alone cannot address, according to a new report from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday.
news.un.org
Strategic depth is achieved, right?
Now look around Pakistan:
Afghanistan = Lack of economic ties due to corruption
Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan in Sept were around $80m while imports were $125m
tribune.com.pk
WE have trade deficit with Afghanistan in the present. Imagine this.
Iran = Lack of economic ties due to sanctions
India = Lack of economic ties due to conflict
China = Good relations but unable to reduce trade deficit
Pakistan’s exports to nine regional countries rose 16.97pc while imports grew by nearly 28.84pc in FY22.
www.dawn.com
CPEC could not address socio-economic challenges of Pakistan in spite of tall claims and promises from our leaders. It simply cannot because it caters to select industries and infrastructure.
The high point of roll out-of mega projects under the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) was in the last tenure...
www.brecorder.com
Much of Pakistani diaspora is in the WEST and Middle East. These people contribute to Pakistan economy with remittances. Many in Pakistan find entrepreneurial opportunities on numerous Western platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Fiverr, Upworks and Amazon to make ends meet. Western companies provide numerous job opportunities on the ground as well. These people are positively contributing to Pakistan economy.
But WE should give up on US now because of American investments in India. Pakistan can really teach other countries about how to SELF-DESTRUCT.
US is in search for alternative markets to China and India is a big one. Of-course, US will get closer to India.
What does Pakistan offers to US in comparison? WE have yet to decide.
Let us talk about arms now.
China provides military equipment and technology to Pakistan - immensely appreciated. But do you think China provides its best to Pakistan? Why would it?
China also learns from Pakistani feedback to improve its military equipment. Pakistan could provide this kind of feedback due to exposure to Western military equipment and technology in times of the War On Terror.
WE need to be in touch with Western options to know how Chinese options stack up in comparison. But this luxury is on the line.
Do you think that Western countries are eager to sell military equipment and technology to Pakistan in the present?