Editorial on US-India Relations

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>Fwd: Editorial on US-India Relations >Sun, 04 Aug 2002 17:23:01

-0400 >>Dear Friend: >> >>It's not often that a regional newspaper anywhere in

the United >>States writes an editorial on US-India Relations. Minnesota's

>>leading newspaper, STAR TRIBUNE, has done just that today (July >>30). And

it's a pretty good one. >> >>It talks of >> >>"things looking up for stronger

U.S-India ties" >> >>"the growing U.S. passion for India" >> >>"the Bush

administration wisely fanning friendship's flames" and >> >>"When Rumsfeld

showed up in India last month, he and his Indian >>counterparts were strolling

about like old college chums >> >>The editors show a rare understanding of

India's sensitivities and >>add that >> >>"More must be done to win India's

trust, and now is the moment to >>win it" >> >>It's clear that the editors have

done their homework and have been >>well briefed on India and US-India

relations. >> >>There is an excellent group of dedicated Indian Americans in

the >>State of Minnesota who have been taking time off to meet the senior

>>editors of the paper to brief them rather thoroughly on the world's >>largest

democracy and issues such as J&K.; For this purpose, they >>had put together a

powerpoint presentation for the benefit of the >>editors and had answered all

the tough questions raised by the >>latter. >> >>Looks like patient work is

paying off. The Minnesota example is a >>successful case study for all of us in

the rest of the United >>States to follow. >> >>The editors of STAR TRIBUNE

welcome contributions from readers, >>whether in the form of letters, the

extended letters they call >>Counterpoints or articles for the Commentary page.

Their address is >>Editorial Department, Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av.,

Minneapolis, >>MN 55488. Submissions may be sent by fax to 612-673-4359.

Letters >>also may be submitted via Internet to opinion (AT) startribune (DOT) com. >>

>>You need to specify whether your article is intended as a letter,

>>Counterpoint or Commentary. >> >>All submissions must include the writer's

name, address, occupation >>and telephone numbers (work and home) and letters

must include the >>writer's signature. >> >>Letters should be brief, up to 250

words. Counterpoints should be >>no longer than 600 words. Commentary articles

should be kept to 750 >>words. Submissions should not be sent as attachments.

>> >>God bless America and India. >> >>Ram Narayanan >> >>

>>http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/3127094.html >> >>STAR TRIBUNE, JULY

30, 2002 >> >>EDITORIAL: POWELL IN INDIA/SEEKING PEACE ON THE SUBCONTINENT >>

>>Published Jul 30, 2002 >> >>Making friends with India is a bit like trying to

remarry your >>ex-spouse. Even if interested, the object of your ardor is sure

to >>think twice about your intentions. But despite old beefs and a >>wealth of

wariness, things are looking up for stronger U.S-India >>ties. Secretary of

State Colin Powell's visit to India last weekend >>-- though it produced few

tangible results -- is the most >>encouraging sign yet. >> >>The visit comes on

the heels of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's >>stop in New Delhi last month,

itself a sign of the growing U.S. >>passion for India. After years of treating

the country like the >>political equivalent of Greenland, a slow thaw seems to

be >>underway. The first warm words came late in President Bill >>Clinton's

term, and now the Bush administration is wisely fanning >>friendship's flames.

It has dumped the fruitless arms-sale >>sanctions enacted after India's 1998

nuclear tests and paved the >>way for joint military exercises. When Rumsfeld

showed up in India >>last month, he and his Indian counterparts were strolling

about >>like old college chums. >> >>Why this fresh fondness? Good reasons

abound. Snubbing India was >>always a mistake: The world's largest democracy,

teeming with >>English-speakers, is a natural trading partner and ally for the

>>United States. Its proximity to China matters, too: If ever a spat >>with a

muscle-flexing China were to ensue, America wants India's >>mammoth population

on its side. And then there's terrorism, which >>India's help is indispensable

in throttling. >> >>But India can be excused for sometimes looking askance at

the new >>U.S. overtures. No nation -- especially not proud India -- wants to

>>be a pawn in a superpower's chess game. And from India's point of >>view,

it's plain that some sort of game is underway. The country's >>willingness to

help the White House snuff out terrorism is hobbled >>by what it sees as U.S.

fawning toward Pakistan since Sept. 11. >>Such coziness is hard for India to

swallow, given Pakistan's >>backing of insurgents -- many linked to Al-Qaida --

in the northern >>province of Kashmir. If Americans really oppose terror, some

>>Indians wonder, why are they doing so little to scotch >>Pakistani-sponsored

terrorism? >> >>Of course the United States has tried. In May Deputy Secretary

of >>State Richard Armitage secured a pledge from Pakistani President >>Pervez

Musharraf to stop militant infiltration to the province. But >>as Powell said

Sunday in Islamabad, there's little proof that the >>influx has abated:

Pakistani guns continue to shell Indian >>positions along the line of control,

and militant violence in >>Kashmir has claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.

>> >>More must be done to win India's trust, and now is the moment to >>win it.

As tensions heighten over Kashmir, the United States has a >>chance to offer

true service. In talks with the subcontinent's top >>leaders over the weekend,

Powell pressed both sides to schedule >>talks to avert an all-out war. But

India still says it won't talk >>to Pakistan until interference in Kashmir

ceases, while Pakistan >>insists talks are a prerequisite for meaningful

change. >> >>It's ridiculous, of course, for two nuclear powers on the brink of

>>war to refuse to come to the negotiating table. But as Powell >>noted, even if

they can't agree to talk soon, there is something >>they can do to assure a

heartening end to their harrowing story: >>When elections are held in Kashmir

this fall, they can work >>together to guarantee a truly democratic outcome.

Such cooperation >>will require restraint from would-be meddlers on both sides.

And as >>Powell said, it will require India to welcome outsiders to verify

>>that elections are free and fair. It will oblige India to honor the >>wishes

of Kashmiris -- to heed their pleas for more autonomy and >>better lives. >>

>>These concessions may be hard on India's pride -- its leaders like >>to think

Indian democracy is beyond scrutiny -- but they hold the >>best hope for ending

the terrorism and bloodshed that has plagued >>Kashmir. Such peacemaking will

work as well to bring India and the >>United States -- acquaintances who should

be friends -- closer >>together. > > > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share

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