India-US News and Discussion

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 20 Feb 2010 07:51

the US govt and the Indian government need to sit together and develop strategies for future business together. It seems somewhere the gaps are not filled in. It is also essential for India to move beyond the regional issues and see global strategical issues with US govt. At present terrorism is one aspect which needs to be addressed. Those countries that are sending terrorists should be kept in their places. An International monitoring body should keep watch over a few powerful countries not to supply arms to them. For example China can send arms to Iran and also to Pakistan which can be supplied to a terrorist group in Pakistan in the name of fighting for freedom but the same heavy arm can be used against US or British soldier in Afganistan or for training a terrorist in Pakistan. In this way they need to develop a defence system against terrorism. People in many countries need to separate from sympathising terrorism to supporting freedom and their own religious promoters. Some of the Islamic friends are good fellas but then they are confused with good looking terrorists by the public and so get the support in Pakistan and in other Muslim dominated places.

Both countries need to share intelligence against terror. They both should also engage creatively action and counter-ideology against terror groups.
US can also help India to develop a good defence system against China and Pakistan and so US can have a good sum for their business. India can also assist in some complex places such as Afganistan and UAE and so on where Indians can do better jobs than the Americans or British in helping and working with the Iraqis.

Obama needs to see long term solutions to the Asian issues. If Pakistan is weak then Afgan does not need to worry too much. If Tibet is free then a lot of Indo-Pak issues can be addressed easily. In this way US and India relationship can grow in a genuine and transparent ways.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 20 Feb 2010 08:52

A New Report and a New Verdict in Terror Fight

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/us/po ... stice.html

After five years of often bitter internal debate, the Justice Department concluded in a report released Friday that the lawyers who gave legal justification to the Bush administration’s brutal interrogation tactics for terrorism suspects used flawed legal reasoning but were not guilty of professional misconduct.

But David Margolis, a career lawyer at the Justice Department, rejected that conclusion in a report of his own released Friday. He said the ethics lawyers, in condemning the lawyers’ actions, had given short shrift to the national climate of urgency in which Mr. Bybee and Mr. Yoo acted after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. “Among the difficulties in assessing these memos now over seven years after their issuance is that the context is lost,” Mr. Margolis said.

We should bring this up when the Americans whine about human rights.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 20 Feb 2010 14:25

Pioneer editor kanchan gupta's tweets:
http://twitter.com/KanchanGupta

More to Saran saga than meets the eye. South Block abuzz that Amriki takeover complete. Two naysayers in PMO, MKN and Saran, forced out.

Saran exit is extremely significant. Shows how helpless is PM and how Amrikis are calling the shots. Cause for alarm.

Let there be no mistake. Amrikis now have us by short and curly courtesy MMS and now his/their doormat SSM. Sellout inevitable.

TIFWIW. Of course.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 20 Feb 2010 15:06

US facing stiff competition from India: Obama

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 21 Feb 2010 01:53

Dunno if this was posted......does'nt seem like.
Farah Pandith skips thorny issues

At Jamia University she kept her speech short. It revolved around Obama’s vision to engage with Muslims based on his historic Cairo address last year. She invited questions from students, in order “to listen and understand them”. She did indeed listen, but understand? When one student just uttered the word, “Israel-Palestine”, she cut him short and said, “That’s not my job. I am not George Mitchell (US Mideast envoy)”.

When another student asked whether the US would reconsider its policy on West Asia and Pakistan, she said, “I am not Richard Holbrooke (US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan). It’s not my job to work on Kashmir or Pakistan.” She avoided questions on American foreign policy — the major bone of contention the Muslims have with the US.

Picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94592664@N00/4366622543/

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 21 Feb 2010 05:12

Some insight into US's interests in pushing India to accept western standards on climate control and associated economics

Another reason for US to look at India is energy needs and India is close to some of the largest energy resources in the world but US want to control those regions. The US government sees similarities with India � one, the nature of source of energy, coal is similar. The other is the diverse nature of markets � India offers a lot of smaller vehicles that can be used for fuel-cell technology � more effectively than just cars in the US. The other countries that form a part of this vision are Japan, Canada, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Italy and the UK. The reason they have decided to work with India is the vast scientific and research talent pool that the country offers.

We don t want India to get up and then start identifying �� viability for fuel cell, we want it to be part of use while the technology is being evolved. Also, Indian scientists have done phenomenon work in working on fuel cell,�� said an official of the US government who took part in discussions of the working group. This is a very indirect way to make sure that India does not threaten the oil supply for US and the west and are encouraging alternative fuel inside India. An India with a growing energy needs is a direct threat to US interest in the Middle East and central Asia. Some policy makers may even classify India as a major threat to US dominance in the world due to clash of energy needs or more precise the control of energy needs.

So while west/US pushes India to accept polution limitations and adaptation of fuel-cell technologies, western economies continue to rely upon economically-cheap but environmentally-expensive carbon fuels.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 21 Feb 2010 05:19

RamaY wrote:Some insight into US's interests in pushing India to accept western standards on climate control and associated economics

Another reason for US to look at India is energy needs and India is close to some of the largest energy resources in the world but US want to control those regions. The US government sees similarities with India � one, the nature of source of energy, coal is similar. The other is the diverse nature of markets � India offers a lot of smaller vehicles that can be used for fuel-cell technology � more effectively than just cars in the US. The other countries that form a part of this vision are Japan, Canada, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Italy and the UK. The reason they have decided to work with India is the vast scientific and research talent pool that the country offers.

We don t want India to get up and then start identifying �� viability for fuel cell, we want it to be part of use while the technology is being evolved. Also, Indian scientists have done phenomenon work in working on fuel cell,�� said an official of the US government who took part in discussions of the working group. This is a very indirect way to make sure that India does not threaten the oil supply for US and the west and are encouraging alternative fuel inside India. An India with a growing energy needs is a direct threat to US interest in the Middle East and central Asia. Some policy makers may even classify India as a major threat to US dominance in the world due to clash of energy needs or more precise the control of energy needs.

Can you provide a link to this article?

Thanks

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 21 Feb 2010 09:56

^^^

Acharya wrote:Unless you understand the geopolitical region and how India is in a crucial region of the world geography you cannot understand this.
Read this document
http://www.scribd.com/doc/4812906/India-and-Geopolitics

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 21 Feb 2010 10:29

The geostrategic problem for the USA is that it is separated from the great land mass that contains most of the world�s population, markets and resources. The solution is occupation.

In the Indian Ocean region, the rise of India will play a key role in the gradual integration of the various lands and peoples of this basin. Whether in the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal, this trend�while still nascent�is already evident. The long-term result will be a more prosperous and globally more influential region. India�s rise in the Indian Ocean also will have important implications for the West and China. Perhaps most significantly, New Delhi�s ascent suggests strongly that the ongoing reordering of the asymmetric relationship between the West and Asia will be centered as much in the Indian Ocean as in East Asia. It was in the IO, moreover, that the effects of Western power first made themselves manifest in the centuries after 1500. On one hand, it would therefore not be surprising if it were here that the Western tide first receded. On the other, India�s role will for a long time to come be no longer in opposition to the United States but in cooperation with it.

India also is no longer geopolitically contained in South Asia, as it wasin the Cold War, when its alignment with the Soviet Union caused the United States and China, with the help of Pakistan, to contain India. Finally, the sea change in Indian-U.S. relations, especially since 9/11, has made it easier for India to enter into close political and security cooperation with America�s friends and allies in the Asia-Pacific. The nature and implications of India�s strategic goals and behavior however, will be felt globally�at the United Nations, in places as distant as Europe and Latin America, and within international economic institutions. It also will be manifest on the continent of Asia, from Afghanistan through Central Asia to Japan. Finally, and most of all, the rise of India will have consequences in the broad belt of nations from South Africa to Australia that constitute the Indian Ocean littoral and region.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 21 Feb 2010 20:31

India ranks 6th in US favourability ratings

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 21 Feb 2010 21:17

VinodTK wrote:India ranks 6th in US favourability ratings

The rating reflected a change in generational thinking towards India.

Nearly eight in every 10 young adults -- of the 18-34 age group -- thought of India favourably, while the popularity decreased with older participants -- six in every 10 adults of 55 years and older favoured India.

The baby boomer generation have funded Pakistan and supported Pak during all wars and during the cold war.
This generation above 55 years hated Indira Gandhi and found her obnoxious.

The poll report said that Americans favoured eight of the countries rated in this year's World Affairs survey that included India, apart from Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan, Israel, France [ Images ] and Egypt

Many Americans think that they can influence Indians with media and think the poor Indians can be manipulated.
Power of American media is considered influential in India. Among this list India is the poorest nation and is a target of evangelization. One of the providence of American people is their global role.

AnimeshP · Post by **AnimeshP** » 22 Feb 2010 04:25

Gagan wrote:US facing stiff competition from India: Obama

Man ... everytime Obama mentions the word India our english media get a collective orgasm ...

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 22 Feb 2010 10:12

VinodTK wrote:India ranks 6th in US favourability ratings

Without comments: Another headline for the same story here:
Americans view India more favourably than Pakistan in Gallup poll

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 22 Feb 2010 11:58

Without comments: Another headline for the same story here:
Americans view India more favourably than Pakistan in Gallup poll

So much for de-hyphenation.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 22 Feb 2010 14:48

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs on Indo-US Relations

http://www.state.gov/p/sca/rls/rmks/2010/136973.htm

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 22 Feb 2010 22:29

Another Paki trained terrorist planning to plead guilty:
New York terror suspect Najibullah Zazi to plead guilty

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 24 Feb 2010 10:32

FBI chief meets Chidambaram
Bob Mueller in dilli to talk about Headley.

kenop · Post by **kenop** » 24 Feb 2010 11:22

pgbhat wrote:FBI chief meets Chidambaram
Bob Mueller in dilli to talk about Headley.

To prepare for the talks with Pak.
Valid point?

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 24 Feb 2010 14:24

India's Rise, America's Interest
The Fate of the U.S.-Indian Partnership
Evan A. Feigenbaum

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ ... s-interest

Two successive Indian governments have pursued a strategic partnership with the United States that would have been unthinkable in the era of the Cold War and nonalignment. This turnaround in relations culminated in 2008, when the two countries signed a civil nuclear agreement. That deal helped end India's nuclear isolation by permitting the conduct of civil nuclear trade with New Delhi, even though India is not a party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Important as the agreement was, however, the U.S.-Indian relationship remains constrained. For example, although U.S. officials hold standing dialogues about nearly every region of the world with their counterparts from Beijing, Brussels, and Tokyo, no such arrangements exist with New Delhi.

No full access

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 24 Feb 2010 21:58

Guys, this does not strictly belong to this thread...but check out this company...supposed to announce a ground breaking new device (already used by Ebay etc in stealth mode) in the next hour or so..you can google news for the rave previews...

http://www.bloomenergy.com

The reason I post here is because this is one HUGE PR OPP for India...inside Unkil land - the CEO and founder + brain is desi guy from Chennai...when so much fanatic barbarianism and terrorism coming out of West Asia, and so much faking, duplicates, poisonous crap and human rights abuses coming out of East Asia, INDIA is smack in the middle, mostly delivering such things...

Proud day...

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 24 Feb 2010 22:40

America's Wealthiest Religions - Mapping distribution of income by religious beliefs

It's no secret that the distribution of wealth is inequitable in the United States across racial, regional, and socio-economic groups. But there is a distinct variance among and within America's faiths as well. This transparency takes a look at the income levels of America's major religious groups, as compared to the average U.S. income distribution.

http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web ... /flat.html

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 25 Feb 2010 09:49

Suppiah wrote:Guys, this does not strictly belong to this thread...but check out this company...supposed to announce a ground breaking new device (already used by Ebay etc in stealth mode) in the next hour or so..you can google news for the rave previews...

http://www.bloomenergy.com

The reason I post here is because this is one HUGE PR OPP for India...inside Unkil land - the CEO and founder + brain is desi guy from Chennai...when so much fanatic barbarianism and terrorism coming out of West Asia, and so much faking, duplicates, poisonous crap and human rights abuses coming out of East Asia, INDIA is smack in the middle, mostly delivering such things...

Proud day...

Indeed I was proud of seeing a fellow SDRE invent something that could be a game changer. But I hate to disappoint you, but Americans don't view us SDREs the way you describe above. As long as us SDREs do the wonderful things like this inventor K.R.Sridhar, here in US, no problem. Americans respect those who succeed and contribute towards their well being here. But were Americans to view us SDREs as you describe, they wouldn't be feeding the Paki terrorists next door with economic/military largesse to keep the smarty SDREs like K.R.Sridhras in India bottled up in "South Asia" equal equaly with TSP terrorists

.

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 25 Feb 2010 22:16

Create a job, get a visa

http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/0 ... et-a-visa/

Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, on Wednesday introduced legislation that would give green cards to immigrants who create new jobs.

The Startup Visa Act would give a two-year visa to an entrepreneur who can raise at least $250,000 for a new venture. If they create at least five full-time jobs, raise more than $1 million, or generate $1 million in sales within two years, they will get permanent legal status. The legislation's backers? More than 100 venture capitalists and angel investors.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 25 Feb 2010 22:26

CRamS wrote:
The reason I post here is because this is one HUGE PR OPP for India...inside Unkil land - the CEO and founder + brain is desi guy from Chennai...when so much fanatic barbarianism and terrorism coming out of West Asia, and so much faking, duplicates, poisonous crap and human rights abuses coming out of East Asia, INDIA is smack in the middle, mostly delivering such things...

Proud day...

Indeed I was proud of seeing a fellow SDRE invent something that could be a game changer. But I hate to disappoint you, but Americans don't view us SDREs the way you describe above. As long as us SDREs do the wonderful things like this inventor K.R.Sridhar, here in US, no problem. Americans respect those who succeed and contribute towards their well being here. But were Americans to view us SDREs as you describe, they wouldn't be feeding the Paki terrorists next door with economic/military largesse to keep the smarty SDREs like K.R.Sridhras in India bottled up in "South Asia" equal equaly with TSP terrorists .

All are considered coolies. Only when India really shines and Indians are able to influence in a positive way it will change. West will keep changing the bar and watch how Indians keep scrambling to prove themselves. That is a trap.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 25 Feb 2010 22:31

Ameet wrote:Create a job, get a visa

http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/0 ... et-a-visa/

Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, on Wednesday introduced legislation that would give green cards to immigrants who create new jobs.

The Startup Visa Act would give a two-year visa to an entrepreneur who can raise at least $250,000 for a new venture. If they create at least five full-time jobs, raise more than $1 million, or generate $1 million in sales within two years, they will get permanent legal status. The legislation's backers? More than 100 venture capitalists and angel investors.

They want to reverse the exodus and keep the talents here. The problem is five jobs in US is same as 20 people in India.

Looks like a Pandava plea than an incentive.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 25 Feb 2010 23:55

No, this is just another sop to a constituency - VCs in this case. The same VC who funds one of these people will ask to relocate engineering overseas to reduce the burn rate.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 26 Feb 2010 05:59

Mac Deford: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India: Where Lies Our National Interest?

shaardula · Post by **shaardula** » 27 Feb 2010 00:35

living in NE i thought faux news was a virtual phenomena. never heard colleagues and ordinary people talk like that. when i moved south i actually see people speak like bill o'reilly. this is the country where slogans like "i'll keep my guns, my money, my freedom, you keep the "change" is in circulation.

so here is rhetorical question.

so, so many americans dont trust the govt to run their own lives. how is it that these very americans, trust the very american govt, which they themselves deem unfit to govern their own lives, to run the lives of foriegn nations? how is it that they trust govt policies favouring the TSP?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 27 Feb 2010 00:50

shaardula wrote:
so, so many americans dont trust the govt to run their own lives. how is it that these very americans, trust the very american govt, which they themselves deem unfit to govern their own lives, to run the lives of foriegn nations? how is it that they trust govt policies favouring the TSP?

Very good observation and you have found the catch.
It is all about controlling and influencing the rest of the world for resource.
The major resource which the western world had access to in the last 100 years was the oil from the middle east and at a price which they wanted.
Can that be still possible in the next 100 years or 200 years.

Not trusting the govt for their own life but backing it for controlling the foreign govt is the strategic choice which they are making,

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 27 Feb 2010 03:27

Furthermore, we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. This disparity is particularly great as between ourselves and the peoples of Asia. In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives.

- George F. Kennan
Head of the US State Department Policy Planning Staff
Document PPS23, 24th February 1948

Karna_A · Post by **Karna_A** » 27 Feb 2010 03:48

Ameet wrote:Create a job, get a visa

http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/0 ... et-a-visa/

Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, on Wednesday introduced legislation that would give green cards to immigrants who create new jobs.

The Startup Visa Act would give a two-year visa to an entrepreneur who can raise at least $250,000 for a new venture. If they create at least five full-time jobs, raise more than $1 million, or generate $1 million in sales within two years, they will get permanent legal status. The legislation's backers? More than 100 venture capitalists and angel investors.

This is the best idea that has come out in a long time.
In fact they should scarp the Diversity Green card that gets freaks and instead allot the Diversity green Cards to Startup Visas.
That makes zero net immigration(to allay immigration opponents) and changes the average such immigrant from Somali Pirate to SUN, Juniper, Google founding/funding SDRE.
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/vi ... 01563486ca

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 27 Feb 2010 20:10

Jagdish Bhagwati in CFR

By trying to sneak such export protectionism through at the Labor Ministers’ meeting, the United States is undermining its bona fides as a responsible leader in the world economy today. It is also setting up a gratuitous, labor-lobbies-led conflict with India.

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 28 Feb 2010 23:28

Ashok Mehta in WSJ

The 1962 border war with China highlighted the weakness of India's defense capabilities and led to a massive overhaul, helped by the United States.

What is he smoking ? Why do Indians who are perfectly normal suddenly become like this when they write in gora papers ?

shukla · Post by **shukla** » 01 Mar 2010 19:59

Nice.... Unkil arming our neighbours..again,though this time 'just' the local cops!

Excuse = War against terror.. wow.. what a surprise!

The US on Monday handed over eight armoured personnel carriers and surveillance equipment worth $1.64 million to Pakistani police as part of the ongoing cooperation between the two sides in the war against terror.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 630897.cms

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 02 Mar 2010 01:05

Rony wrote:Ashok Mehta in WSJ
The 1962 border war with China highlighted the weakness of India's defense capabilities and led to a massive overhaul, helped by the United States.
What is he smoking ? Why do Indians who are perfectly normal suddenly become like this when they write in gora papers ?

Take a look at how the 18 ordnance factories were setup. Its also true that most of the help died off after 1965 war.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 02 Mar 2010 02:49

Helping the US help us

On another occasion, the US lodged an official protest because the Chief of General Staff (now called the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff) gave the Pentagon information on Indian needs that was at variance with what the Army Chief, General J.N. Chaudhary, had conveyed to Gen. Kelly. In Ambassador’s Journal, John Kenneth Galbraith writes about an Indian cabinet minister who visited him and argued that nothing short of $1 billion worth of military aid would do. The ambassador gently tried to puncture this pipedream. However, the real problem lay with American policy that was focused on Pakistan’s reaction.

arun · Post by **arun** » 04 Mar 2010 07:36

X Posted. The US is walking the extra mile to dilute the role of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the murder of Indian citizens :

abhishek_sharma wrote:
CRamS wrote:Can those who rush to the defense of MMS as a so called Chankyan avatar for his willingness to "walk the extra mile", please explain as to what stops MMS at the very least from issuing a statement condoning the death of his fellow countrymen, and more importantly putting the international community (read US) on noitice that this was an attack on Indians by TSP. It is due lack of a forceful diplomatic response from the highest levels of Indian govt (MMS & Co) that this Holbrooke creep has the audacity to cover up for his TSP clients:

Kabul blast: Holbrooke’s comments surprise India. Is MMS a mile closer to TSP after this attack?

Article in The Hindu on Holbrooke's comment

India upset with Holbrooke view on Kabul attack
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/04/stories ... 900100.htm

arun · Post by **arun** » 04 Mar 2010 07:52

PTI on India’s reaction to the US walking the extra mile to dilute the role of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the murder of Indian citizens in Kabul.

Looks like the US is palming off the bill of the seemingly increased Pakistani co-operation in suppressing the Afghan Taliban on Pakistani soil to India by diluting the role of Pakistan in the murder of Indian citizens in Kabul:

Holbrooke's comments on Kabul attack surprises India

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 04 Mar 2010 09:45

arun wrote:PTI on India’s reaction to the US walking the extra mile to dilute the role of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the murder of Indian citizens in Kabul.

Looks like the US is palming off the bill of the seemingly increased Pakistani co-operation in suppressing the Afghan Taliban on Pakistani soil to India by diluting the role of Pakistan in the murder of Indian citizens in Kabul:

Holbrooke's comments on Kabul attack surprises India

When Holbrooke was appointed as envoy in our region we successfully resisted his(Ombabas) mediation in kashmir. He was also not invited to meet yindian officials.Nai dilli gave lots of reasons for not meeting him.

Masaru · Post by **Masaru** » 04 Mar 2010 10:43

US has India over the barrel

All this is happening when, following the Istanbul and London conferences, Pakistan is proclaiming that it will play the predominant role in “reintegrating” the Taliban in Afghanistan’s national life and that India has no role to play in that country. One hears some influential American friends now tell Indian interlocutors that India should reduce the “salience” of its role in Afghanistan. While this may not be what the Obama Administration officially states, it is interesting that unlike Al Qaeda’s members, the Taliban’s cadre are no longer described by the Americans as “terrorists” but as “insurgents”. Mere platitudes are not enough to deal with this situation. Has the time not come to tell the Obama Administration that we are tired of listening to calls for “dialogue” and that we could review our policies on Afghanistan by reviving old links we had with Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and by charting a more independent path on relations with the Karzai Government? Should we not devise a comprehensive strategy for responding effectively to Pakistan’s efforts to ‘bleed’ us?

Pakistan has now opened a new front in its propaganda war against India. Though Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner has stated that there is no evidence that India is violating the Indus Waters Treaty, national hysteria is being whipped up, led by Gen Kayani, alleging that India is deliberately denying Pakistan its legitimate share of river waters from the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. The reality is that though the IWT permits India to build storage facilities of 3.6 million acreage feet, no such facility has been built so far, enabling unimpeded flow to Pakistan. Moreover while the treaty permits India to irrigate 1.34 million acres from the western rivers, India is currently irrigating only 0.792 million acres. India would also be well-advised to undertake measures for fuller utilisation of the waters of the eastern rivers which continue to flow into Pakistan.The Pakistani Government’s own papers make it clear that that Pakistan does not face a shortage of water (it receives 139 MAF against the total flow of 169 MAF of water from six rivers of the Indus basin), but is faced with a crisis caused by poor and inequitable utilisation, with the lower riparian Sindh and Balochistan provinces being deprived of their legitimate water requirements by the Army-dominated Punjab Province.

South Block fails to realise that led by Gen Kayani, Pakistan’s ruling military establishment has persuaded itself that it wields huge leverage with the Obama Administration, which has set a date for commencement of troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and desperately needs Pakistan’s cooperation for a face-saving exit. New Delhi is perceived by the GHQ in Rawalpindi to lack any clear or consistent policy and appears ever-ready to meekly bend to American diktats. The Government of India has only itself to blame for allowing this impression to gain ground internationally and domestically. The decision to suddenly change direction and agree to talks between Foreign Secretaries even before the Home Minister paid a scheduled visit to Islamabad has only strengthened this impression. Unless the Union Cabinet devises a clear policy of imposing high costs for Pakistani support to terrorism against India and Indian assets abroad, we will be perceived as a nation incapable of defending our vital interests.