India-US Relations : News and Discussion

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 28 Sep 2014 22:48

could someone please translate this for me?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF5mfHMvBwI

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 28 Sep 2014 23:54

Does not deserve comments but for the fact that Chinese are keenly watching Modi's every move. That is why it was good to talk to China and it is good to talk to the US even if our interests are not aligned. Indian is THE global swing state and we need to take play that card well. The visit is causing a lot of khujli as it should and as it was intended to cause.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/BzWudm ... inese.html

US efforts to court Narendra Modi ‘ludicrous’, says Chinese media

Terming US efforts to woo Prime Minister Narendra Modi after denying him a visa as “quite ludicrous”, an article in the China’s state-run Global Times said the US plans to revitalise its relations with India to boost its China containment policy.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 29 Sep 2014 00:05

Wall Street over Washington Interesting comments by Ajit Gulabchand early on. The real damange done by the UPA II.

BajKhedawal · Post by **BajKhedawal** » 29 Sep 2014 00:05

How long till Eleven Dijin-pin Pong would book Madison charbagh, and fill it with his palty dlones to do a equal - equal with Modi?

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 29 Sep 2014 00:13

"The global swing state" in my earlier comment was taken from here

http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2 ... wing_state

When Obama Meets Modi: The Superpower and the Global Swing State

As U.S. President Barack Obama prepares to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in late September, in the wake of Chinese President Xi Jinping's grand tour of South Asia, the world will be watching for clues about the future strategic triangle between its three biggest nations.

A China-India axis would tilt the balance of power against the United States, calling into question the future of its alliances with nations like Japan, and the ability of the U.S. to lead globally. By contrast, a U.S.-India partnership would make it more difficult for China to challenge American leadership in Asia and the world. An international order anchored by strong democracies would be fundamentally different from one led by an authoritarian superpower.

Both Obama and Xi will therefore cultivate Modi's India as the key global "swing state" -- just as prime ministers Shinzo Abe of Japan and Tony Abbott of Australia have recently done. When Modi visited Tokyo in early September, Abe announced a "special" strategic partnership and an impressive $35 billion in new Japanese investments in India. Abbott, on an official visit to New Delhi, announced that Australia would strengthen military ties and supply India with uranium for its civil nuclear reactors.

Not to be outdone, Xi committed to $20 billion in new investments during his visit to India from Sept. 17 to Sept. 19, clearly attempting to reverse the momentum of New Delhi's growing strategic ties to Tokyo, Washington, and Canberra. As one Chinese observer put it: "China is eager to win India over and ensure that it will not gravitate rapidly to the emerging anti-China coalition" led by the U.S. and Japan.

Fortunately, while Modi wants to import Chinese economic dynamism into India, he has also made clear that India will push back against what he calls China's "18th century expansionist mindset." On the day that Modi welcomed Xi to India, reports surfaced of a major Chinese border incursion into Indian-controlled territory. The summit was overshadowed by this military standoff.

On his recent trip to Tokyo, Modi compared China's vistarvad, or expansionism, to his hope for vikasvad, or development. He followed up during Xi's visit to New Delhi with the sternest warning by any Indian leader in decades that China should back off from its armed revisionism along their disputed frontier and settle the issue peacefully. India's new government has ordered its forces to "interdict" Chinese troops in disputed areas along the border.

Balance-of-power logic alone cannot explain recent India-China frictions, in part because each country is implicated in the other's domestic politics. New Delhi is complicit in China's domestic insecurity by virtue of India's strong support for Tibet, including hosting its government-in-exile. In India, Xi was met by waves of pro-Tibetan protestors angry about China's crackdown there. For its part, China has stepped up claims to what it calls southern Tibet -- otherwise known as the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. China also supports a Pakistani "deep state" that has produced waves of terrorism against India, and endorses Pakistan's claim to Indian-controlled Kashmir.

There was a period in 2009 to 2012, as Indian leaders grew disillusioned with Obama's foreign policy, when senior officials in New Delhi spoke internally of maintaining "equidistance" between Washington and Beijing. Diplomatically, India hedged its bets against both China and America during this period. But the policy did not work. China stepped up its hostile behavior against India even as it pursued gunboat diplomacy against Japan and Southeast Asian nations.

By 2013, a former senior Indian official who had served during the period of the Delhi-Beijing rapprochement was clear: "Equidistance is dead; of course India will tilt towards the United States." With an eye on the threat posed by India's northern neighbor, Modi has increased defense spending by 15 percent. He has signaled his determination to revitalize India's economic growth not only to advance domestic welfare, but to provide the resources to propel the country's military modernization.

New Delhi's approach to China will be influenced by America's approach. Modi has indicated his openness to a strategic alliance between the world's largest democracies. But if U.S. policy towards China is too accommodating -- or if America is simply less present as Obama backs away from his "pivot to Asia" -- Indian calculations naturally will be affected. By contrast, if U.S. power and purpose appear resurgent, Washington will be a more attractive partner to New Delhi, reinforcing common interests in defeating terrorism, stabilizing Asia, and growing the world economy.

As one Indian strategist put it: "We didn't seek a strategic partnership with America because we thought you'd go into decline but because we expected you to remain strong -- and to lead." President Obama should heed this message when he meets India's prime minister.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 29 Sep 2014 00:29

pankajs wrote:
As one Indian strategist put it: "We didn't seek a strategic partnership with America because we thought you'd go into decline but because we expected you to remain strong -- and to lead." President Obama should heed this message when he meets India's prime minister.

[/quote]
Has anybody asked the question why US wanted a strategic relationship with India?

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 29 Sep 2014 01:26

Rajdeep S thrashed outside msg for calling someone ass hole, this is ridiculous he was very confrontationist and looking for a fight. Just Crazy

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 29 Sep 2014 01:39

Can somebody get the video of Barka Dutt interviewing a Indian American youth girl and asking questions like

Why is she supporting Modi.
How many times has she visited India
Does she watch Bollywood movies
Can she sing Indian songs

She is gathering information to be passed on to experts who want to mold the next gen
They are worried that a global movement of young Indians to be pro India and Pro Hindu would undermine their long term goal.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 29 Sep 2014 01:49

I have been saying this for some time. India is in a very good position to extract concessions from both China and the US. Similar to what Pakistan has done but we have our internals worked out. We must insulate ourselves from global economic shocks and conflict and have a sustained growth strategy. Unification of the neighborhood is key.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 29 Sep 2014 02:16

http://www.straight.com/news/738601/gur ... priorities

One more hater
They have nurtured significant number of India haters who are coming out in the open
These guys are using the western system and US system to create a legitimacy of their own. They have become a single person country of their own to charge anybody and India.

Feeling isolated and not connected with Indians for decades these people have become supporters of western social propaganda

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 29 Sep 2014 02:39

Deleted

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 29 Sep 2014 03:05

svinayak wrote:Can somebody get the video of Barka Dutt interviewing a Indian American youth girl and asking questions like

Why is she supporting Modi.
How many times has she visited India
Does she watch Bollywood movies
Can she sing Indian songs

She is gathering information to be passed on to experts who want to mold the next gen
They are worried that a global movement of young Indians to be pro India and Pro Hindu would undermine their long term goal.

Not sure if you are aware of who that girl is.. She is Anjali..the daughter of the CEO Vivek Ranadivé of Tipco. They are already famous for what they did for High school Basketball in California.. I am so stoked that this family is Pro Modi!

What are they famous for..other than being the CEO of Tipco?

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/ ... ts-goliath

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 29 Sep 2014 03:19

svinayak wrote:Can somebody get the video of Barka Dutt interviewing a Indian American youth girl and asking questions like

Why is she supporting Modi.
How many times has she visited India
Does she watch Bollywood movies
Can she sing Indian songs

She is gathering information to be passed on to experts who want to mold the next gen
They are worried that a global movement of young Indians to be pro India and Pro Hindu would undermine their long term goal.

I don't think Burqa Dutt and Turdesai are necessarily anti India, it's that they have sold themselves to foreign agencies and are their proxies. They are on someone's payroll. They are today's Mir Jaffers and Mir Sadiqs.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 29 Sep 2014 03:37

Hmm! Isn't that like saying that the ISIS rapists are not anti-woman, it's just that...

So this drunken lout Rajdeep Sardesai got into a brawl in the street and got punched out. Why does that become SHOCKING ASSAULT ON SENIOR INDIAN JOURNALIST?

Looks more like road rage, with him getting the worst of it. Priceless Hindi comment comparing his achievement to that of Kejriwal

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 29 Sep 2014 03:47

KJo wrote:
svinayak wrote:Can somebody get the video of Barka Dutt interviewing a Indian American youth girl and asking questions like

Why is she supporting Modi.
How many times has she visited India
Does she watch Bollywood movies
Can she sing Indian songs

She is gathering information to be passed on to experts who want to mold the next gen
They are worried that a global movement of young Indians to be pro India and Pro Hindu would undermine their long term goal.

I don't think Burqa Dutt and Turdesai are necessarily anti India, it's that they have sold themselves to foreign agencies and are their proxies. They are on someone's payroll. They are today's Mir Jaffers and Mir Sadiqs.

So the fact they they "sold themselves to foreign agencies" doesn't make them anti-indian? Think about what you're saying.

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 29 Sep 2014 03:52

I am more forgiving of people who are destitute in India who sell themselves for some $$$.. It doesn't mater if they are converting for some money or even selling India out for some $$$$.

But there are plenty of wealthy liberal left Indians who just do it out of spite.. Its these desies who are pure evil and I can never reconcile myself to these buggers.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Sep 2014 04:12

That the Chinese comment upon the PM's wooing by the US is an indication that they are nervous.The asinine "XI Gins" leader of the Moron Kingdom should've kept his troops in their barracks before he visited India.Had there been no aggro on the border,Indian suspicion of Chinese motives would've been allayed to a greater extent.He could've charmed the pants off his Indian hosts especially as Mr.Modi rolled out the red carpet for him in true Indian hospitality with the personal touch in Ahmedabad.The gin-soaked moron should've instead waited for the outcome of the PM's visit to the US, assessed whether India was willing to go further with the US as to its strat. relationship and join the anti-Chinese mil. alliance along with the US's client states like Japan,Oz,etc.,and then decided about tickling us up on the border.

Instead,the arrogant faecal parasite thought that he could bully his host into submission in his own lair.Unfortunately for him,Mr.Modi was in no mood to oblige and XI Gins looked like a bully whose bluff was called and had to slink away with his tail between his legs,just as his troops are now doing after facing off against thousands of Indian troops.And what was the result of his cretinous behaviour? The people of Hong Kong protesting against a puppet ruler for the territory,got emboldened by Mr.Modi's standing up to the bully and are even as one writes,standing up for their rights in massive protests! Both O'Bomber and Mr.Modi could do well to comment upon events in Hong Kong,when the leaders of the world's two most important democracies send their message to the world community,that another Tian An Men Sq. in "Central" will send China into the black hole international condemnation,blacklisted,with a full range of sanctions and ostracism galore.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/s ... e-minister

US turns on charm as Narendra Modi roadshow rolls into New York
This is India’s century, new prime minister tells sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden
Jason Burke in Delhi, and Ed Pilkington in New York
The Guardian, Sunday 28 September 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India received a rock star reception in New York as thousands cheered on the new right-wing leader. Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images

No expense had been spared by the organisers of the $1.5m event. The stage of New York’s Madison Square Garden was filled with dancers in traditional dress, while a laser show and holograms of historical Indian figures lit up the backdrop. Shots of rising skyscrapers, microchip factories and Asia’s largest solar-energy plant were framed by balloons in the colours of the Indian and US flags.

When Narendra Modi, the new prime minister of India, took to the stage on Sunday night, he told the wildly enthusiastic audience that the 21st century would belong to Asia, and possibly to his own nation. “Some say, this is India’s century. India has the potential … The time has come. India is the world’s youngest country and its most ancient culture. [It] has something that other countries in the world don’t,” Modi told the sellout crowd of 20,000 at an event which many see as the highlight of the 64-year-old politician’s five-day US visit.

Speaking in Hindi, and using some phrases familiar from this year’s long election campaign, Modi spoke of his ambitions for India, where economic growth has flagged in recent years.

The organisers, the Indian American Community Foundation, had seized the opportunity to showcase the Indian-American community. There are 2.8 million Indian Americans, forming one of the wealthiest and best-educated diaspora communities in the US. Many became involved in Modi’s election campaign.

Performers included the aspiring pop singer Anjali Ranadive, while Nina Davuluri, who became the first Indian American to win the Miss America competition in 2013, was a host.

“It means a lot to me to be able to represent Indian Americans. [Modi] is the first of his generation to be the prime minister and so many changes are going to come. It is such a rich culture … Indians are so full of life.,” Ranadive told NDTV, an Indian TV channel.

Modi won a crushing victory in the polls in May, gaining his Bharatiya Janata party the first clear majority in Indian politics for 30 years and raising hopes for wholesale reform in a country still troubled by poor infrastructure, red tape, deep poverty and weak governance. Since then, business confidence and the stock market have surged.

A former tea seller from a poor family in the western state of Gujarat, Modi entered politics after spending years as an organiser with right wing religious organisations. He has described himself as a Hindu nationalist and a patriot.

However he won power campaigning on a development agenda and focused much of his speech last night on the economic potential of India, his desire to reform government and to improve sanitation. Modi appealed directly for the diaspora to help him clean the Ganges, the heavily polluted river sacred to Hindus. Modi received rapturous applause for saying that when people asked him for a “big vision” he replied that he was only a “small man” who started out selling tea.

More than 40 US congressmen were present to watch the speech, which was relayed on a giant screen in Times Square. Local authorities had laid on extra public transport for the expected crowds.

Earlier in the day Modi appeared at the Global Citizen festival in Central Park, attended by an estimated 60,000 people.

He said his hope was that India’s 800 million young people could transform the nation. “To put the light of hope in every eye. And the joy of belief in every heart. Lift people out of poverty. Put clean water and sanitation within the reach of all. Make healthcare available to all. A roof over every head,” he said.

Last week India became the first nation to put a satellite into the orbit of Mars on its first attempt, and the first Asian nation to do so at all.

But not all were won over by Modi’s Madison Square event. Vinod Mehta, a well-known Indian commentator, described it as “over the top”.

“He has only been in power for 100 days. There is a personality cult that is being built up and the fervour is quite frightening,” Mehta said.

Amit Kumar, 31, a taxi driver in south Delhi, watched much of the speech in a tea stall near Nizamuddin station and disagreed.

“He is a very strong man. There they are showing much respect for India. That is his achievement.”

On Monday Modi will head to Washington for meetings with the heads of 17 multinationals, including Google, Boeing, IBM, PepsiCo and MasterCard, and a private dinner with Barack Obama. This will be a frugal meal as Modi will be fasting for the annual Hindu religious festival of Navratri.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal this weekend Modi described the US as India’s “natural partner”.

But relations have been rocky. In 2005 Modi was denied a visa to the US under a 1998 law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom”.

The decision followed accusations that he had stood by during, or even encouraged, sectarian violence in Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed by rioters.

Modi has denied all wrongdoing and India’s supreme court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to back the charges against him.

On Sunday night he made an oblique, jocular reference to the affair, saying he understood when fellow Indians complained of problems obtaining a visa.

The UK ended its boycott of Modi in 2012. The EU swiftly followed, with the US ambassador only meeting the prime ministerial candidate for the first time earlier this year.

On the eve of Modi’s visit, an activist group in the US filed a lawsuit on behalf of three survivors of the violence that accuses the Indian leader of attempted genocide, and there were small protests outside the venue last night.

After an improvement a decade ago, and a controversial nuclear deal, relations between Delhi and Washington hit a low last year when the Indian deputy consul general in the US was arrested on suspicion of visa fraud in New York, strip-searched and held in police custody. The affair prompted a vitriolic reaction in India to what was seen as disrespectful bullying, leading to accusations in the US of oversensitivity and behaviour unbecoming of an aspirant future power.

Since then Washington has mounted a charm offensive, said Michael Kugelman, a south Asia expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre in Washington.
in his eye,
“For Washington, and for Obama specifically, it’s really about simply getting to know someone they don’t know much about. The relationship has hit rock bottom so the only way is up. Everyone is looking for some good news out of this,” Kugelman said last week.

Vinodh Mehta has to behave like a drop of dung in th4 pot of milk! With the mote in his eye,there is nothing good that he can see about the PM.Like that fossil who now lives in the dustbin,Mani S.Aiyer, there are some like Mehta and his ilk who cannot reconcile themselves to the dramatic change in Indian politics with Mr.Modi's arrival on the grand stage.

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 29 Sep 2014 04:30

RoyG wrote:
CRamS wrote:SSJi, I know you said you don't watch Bharka Didi. But her coverage of ModiJi's visit has been excellent to date, even cracked up a tad after his speech. She is also dressed for the occasion. Lets cut her some slack and see if she has redeemed herself . Her coverage of TSP will tell us.
Bullsh*t. I don't fall for this garbage. I'll be happy when she ends up in Tihar.

Her antics during Gujarat riots in 2002, and during 26/11, both times openly pointing out on TV where there is no security coverage should call for criminal prosecution, let alone the Radiagate scandal.

Cosmo_R · Post by **Cosmo_R** » 29 Sep 2014 04:31

Was at MSG today. Incredible atmosphere, energy and cohesiveness in the Indo-American community today unlike the typical TiE meetings where snarkiness and cliquishness dominate.

Great feeling. Whole familia was there.

Modi was superb. The translator was not. But then Modi was speaking without notes and she could not keep up with the Hindi grammar. My Hindi is rusty but I understood him better than her.

Anjali's rendition (and she really did tear it apart) of the US national anthem was bizarre.

Anyway, just a thought: I kept thinking that Varsha Bhosle would have felt vindicated. RIP old friend.

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 29 Sep 2014 04:49

Cosmo_R wrote:Was at MSG today. Incredible atmosphere, energy and cohesiveness in the Indo-American community today unlike the typical TiE meetings where snarkiness and cliquishness dominate.

Great feeling. Whole familia was there.

Modi was superb. The translator was not. But then Modi was speaking without notes and she could not keep up with the Hindi grammar. My Hindi is rusty but I understood him better than her.

Anjali's rendition (and she really did tear it apart) of the US national anthem was bizarre.

Anyway, just a thought: I kept thinking that Varsha Bhosle would have felt vindicated. RIP old friend.

+1
And peace to Ashaji.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Sep 2014 04:53

Modiji said he has not any grand vision, he focuses only on small things; but his idea that like the Independence Movement, the development of India should be also a jan-andolan is in reality a grand vision. That a substantial majority of people can be motivated to see their daily activities as an expression of service to the country rather than to be mired in cynicism and lethargy is a grand vision.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Sep 2014 04:59

If I understood Pradhan Mantriji correctly, American citizens will get a visa-on-arrival facility with India.

I read that to mean that Indian security cooperation with the US is such that Modiji and his advisors do not fear another David Headley.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Sep 2014 05:18

AG,I would recommend a visa on-line approach,as we can with sufficient cyber security linked to a database,spot potential fakes. An alternative would be fast tracking short term visits and tourists visiting in large groups.It would be prudent however to allow visas on arrival only to those nations which reciprocate the gesture.It would be very easy now for Paki agents to penetrate India as Headley did. A few terror attacks and the entire scheme could go up in smoke.The security angle must be thoroughly examined for loopholes and flaws.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 29 Sep 2014 05:36

^^I also worry about EJ agents coming in by the Boeing load, besides...

Am sure MHA and Doval saab will come up with something...

Sumeet · Post by **Sumeet** » 29 Sep 2014 05:40

Hari Seldon wrote:^^I also worry about EJ agents coming in by the Boeing load, besides...

Am sure MHA and Doval saab will come up with something...

But this rule will outstay both current MHA and Doval.

Tomorrow if there is a govt. change and dispensation is like UPA-1 & 2 think what will happen ? Who will prevent massive misuse & its dangerous consequences ?

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Sep 2014 05:49

^^^ I think I heard Pradhan Mantriji correctly -- if I'm mistaken, please correct me.

I was quite a bit taken aback -- but thinking about it, I think had better mean that an unprecedented Indo-US security cooperation is going to be announced from Washington DC, and if I heard the "visa-on-arrival" correctly, it can last only as long as the security arrangement is in place.

Anyway, I so don't trust my ears I will wait for someone else to confirm that that is what Modiji said.

PS: India has tourist-on-arrival visas for Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam, which applies unless the person or either his/her parents or grand-parents (paternal or maternal) were born in, and was permanently resident in Pakistan.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Sep 2014 05:54

Before we go overboard with Mr.Modi's reception in the US,which in truth was a huge welcome by the Indian diaspora,let us re-examine the actual situation on the ground where the US has a perpetual lust for its errant terrorist rent-boy Pak,a policy acutely detrimental to Indian interests endangering our security and further encouraging Pak in its anti-Indian JV with China.It is time for Mr.Modi to call a spade a spade.

Question USA's Pak policy
The sale of MRAPs appears small but it reveals the US diplomatic mindset that consistently undermines India.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/columns ... 453757.ece

Question USA's Pak Policy

By Tufail Ahmad
Published: 29th September 2014

Days before prime minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Washington last week, the US announced its decision to give 160 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAPs) vehicles worth $198 million to Pakistan. According to a statement, the sale “will contribute to the foreign policy” of the US. The decision is part of a larger US plan to hand over military hardware from Afghanistan to Pakistan army. It also reveals the deceptive American argument that selling F-16s and other war-fighting weapons to Pakistan is meant to fight militants. Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani ambassador and an astute thought leader of South Asia, has described this American thinking as delusional.

India should call this bluff for the following reason: the US foreign policy hampers India’s interests and its efforts to shape South Asia. Diplomacy is relevant when and where it matters the most. The move to sell the MRAPs is timed with Modi’s Washington visit. India must openly debate the US relationship with Pakistan. Also, the Indian media needs to sharpen its focus on how the US’s Pakistan policy undermines India in its neighbourhood. The US counterterror policy on Afghanistan has been flawed throughout by overlooking the Pakistani role, except for when George W Bush ordered the CIA to stop sharing intelligence with Islamabad in 2008 and develop a parallel network of human intelligence in the Pakistani tribal region.

Bush’s move followed the realisation that the Pakistani military’s ISI was protecting jihadists in Waziristan despite actionable intelligence. Soon after its creation in 1947, Pakistan began a policy of using jihadists from the Pashtun-dominated north-west region to advance its external policies. The north-west region had been a hotbed of jihadists from the colonial times. In 1947-48, the newly created Pakistan used jihadists to invade Jammu & Kashmir and Balochistan. The use of jihadists continued through all wars against India and in peace time, as well as against its own people in Bangladesh. Its use of jihadists in the Kargil war was comprehensive.

In Pakistan, the final arbiter of its foreign policy, especially with regards to Afghanistan, the US and India, is the ISI, which views itself as the ideological guardian of the Islamic state. In theory, the ISI chief reports to the civilian government, but in practice he answers only to the army chief. The ISI is known for birthing, nurturing and shepherding jihadist groups to advance Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives. Ideologically, the only difference between the ISI and al-Qaeda is this: both stand for the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate, while the ISI nurtures the objective that Pakistan, being the first state created singularly for Islam, will be the leader of that caliphate.

In military strategy, generals do not write an exit plan before war; at least they don’t announce to the enemy when they intend to wrap up the war. However, president Barack Obama’s advance announcement to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by 2014-end activated the ISI strategists to think beyond 2014. As the US exit from Afghanistan approaches, the ISI’s policy of using jihadist outfits after 2014 is beginning to emerge. There are also clear evidences that al-Qaeda is indeed a branch of the Pakistani military.

Consider three points: one, advancing essentially the ISI’s post-2014 strategy, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has announced the establishment of “Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent”—a terror unit that is succeeding in recruiting Indian Muslims; two, Asmatullah Muawiya, the chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab, recently announced that he would abandon fighting, but contrary to the media’s interpretations his decision means that he will fight in Afghanistan and against Indian interests while ceasing attacks “within” Pakistan; three, reports indicate that the Punjabi Taliban will now assist the Haqqani Network, the ISI’s long arm destabilising Afghanistan.

Perhaps rooted in Ashoka’s renunciation of violence, Indian intellectual thought refrains from taking positions on global issues. In 2011, India abstained from a vote on a UN resolution that permitted a no-fly zone over Libya. In July, to gain equivalence on the multilateral track, India voted against Israel—in favour of a UN resolution that avoided mentioning the jihadist group, Hamas. India doesn’t have courage to train some Iraqi policemen, if not to send troops for the fear that Indian expatriate workers could be affected, as advised by Indian diplomats influenced by Damascus. Indian diplomacy is cultivated to be intellectually timid, to hide behind non-alignment and lacks a conception of India’s place in the world.

In the 4th Century BC, Kautilya offered, reminds Henry Kissinger in his new book World Order, “a vision of how to establish and guard a state while neutralising, subverting, and (when opportune conditions have been established) conquering its neighbours”. Now, military generals who mock some of the Indian state’s Kautilyan practices become ministers. It is also doubtful if India would have intervened in East Pakistan but—as Kissinger notes—for “the protection of a freshly signed Soviet defense treaty”. A few years ago, strategists in Delhi called for Nonalignment 2.0, which anchors Indian thought in the Soviet era. In 2012, writing about Nonalignment 2.0, then air vice marshal Arjun Subramaniam happened to observe: being “restrained is a demonstration of the ‘idea of India’”. India’s restraint is a diplomatic mental block.

On September 21, The Washington Post warned that Pakistan “is advancing toward a sea-based missile capability and expanding its interest in tactical nuclear warheads”. A nation that cannot make train engines produces cruise missiles and nuclear bombs. It is time the US is told: Pakistani’s jihadist military is bankrolled by American money. The Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan was orchestrated to have the blocked US funds cleared to Pakistan army. The sale of MRAPs appears small but it reveals the US diplomatic mindset that consistently undermines India, a point Indian diplomats are yet to comprehend. If the US expects India to be a natural ally, New Delhi must realise that blunt-talking and brinkmanship are established tenets of international diplomacy. In any India-US dialogue, America’s Pakistan policy must be on the agenda.

Tufail Ahmad is director of South Asia Studies Project at the Middle East Media Research
Institute, Washington DC. Email: [email protected]

Dileep · Post by **Dileep** » 29 Sep 2014 05:56

Doesn't anyone have anything to say about the national anthem? Instead of the regulation cadence, it was sung like mourning music! Horrible!

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 29 Sep 2014 05:56

Philip wrote:AG,I would recommend a visa on-line approach,as we can with sufficient cyber security linked to a database,spot potential fakes.

From what I understand, that is exactly what it is--online app with printout to be presented in desh. That gives our security wallahs enough time to vet every app, record every stated reason for entry. Am sure this does not mean that every app will be approved for presentation in India. Some will be advised to apply for a paper visa before leaving for whatever reason and some will be rejected outright. What this has taken out of the loop is the mailing of passports to the processing black hole and the praying that it comes back intact and in time.

As before, if someone indicates "tourist" as a reason for visit and is found waving the Bible at the natives, he/she will be kicked out without fuss and debarred for ever. India has interested eyes and ears even in the remotest tribal areas now, unlike under UPA. And BTW, if UPA comes back to India in future, we deserve it.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 29 Sep 2014 06:03

I am not sure I will connect strategic/security co-operation with visa-on-arrival. He is simply focussed on his goal of employing 65% of youth in various high labor industries. Tourism is one such. Regardless of reciprocation and/or impact on security situation including EJ threat, it merits (or he thinks it merits) undertaking this initiative.

If it does impact security situation it its current form then steps need to be taken to alleviate it or withstand that threat. I feel that too is a good thing we evolve and strengthen it further.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Sep 2014 06:03

As before, if someone indicates "tourist" as a reason for visit and is found waving the Bible at the natives, he/she will be kicked out without fuss and debarred for ever. India has interested eyes and ears even in the remotest tribal areas now, unlike under UPA.

This is exactly what US NGOs did in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami in Sri Lanka (and probably in other countries too) .Saw them first hand.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 29 Sep 2014 06:13

Victor wrote:
Philip wrote:AG,I would recommend a visa on-line approach,as we can with sufficient cyber security linked to a database,spot potential fakes.
From what I understand, that is exactly what it is--online app with printout to be presented in desh. That gives our security wallahs enough time to vet every app, record every stated reason for entry. Am sure this does not mean that every app will be approved for presentation in India. Some will be advised to apply for a paper visa before leaving for whatever reason and some will be rejected outright. What this has taken out of the loop is the mailing of passports to the processing black hole and the praying that it comes back intact and in time.

As before, if someone indicates "tourist" as a reason for visit and is found waving the Bible at the natives, he/she will be kicked out without fuss and debarred for ever. India has interested eyes and ears even in the remotest tribal areas now, unlike under UPA. And BTW, if UPA comes back to India in future, we deserve it.

Thanks, it must be what you said!

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 29 Sep 2014 06:19

IMO prospects of unprecedented security cooperation with WashDC are next to zilch. Trust deficit is simply too much that DC will not be be able to bridge the gap.

Obama (and by ext his admin) is an intellectual equivalent of dung beatle to realize who he is dealing with. His (and anyone in his place) first instinct remains the kill switch if he finds our guy diff to manage, which is our worst nightmare.

Further, security is just one aspect of the western khujli with India. If they enter into such cooperation what is there to prevent India from becoming an alternate intellectual powerhouse.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 29 Sep 2014 06:25

KJo wrote: I don't think Burqa Dutt and Turdesai are necessarily anti India, it's that they have sold themselves to foreign agencies and are their proxies. They are on someone's payroll. They are today's Mir Jaffers and Mir Sadiqs.

While you guys were at MSG I was attending a literature festival in Bangalore and was listening to and interacting with Arun Shourie, Rajiv Malhotra and others such as Girish Karnad. Among the people there were Madhu Trehan and Mrinal Pande who pointed out that every single news organization in India (and abroad) is compromised and publicize only "paid news" - that is not news at all but what they are paid for.

Trehan also pointed out (as has been done on BRF) that 70% of Indian news outlets are family affairs.

So you can pretty much dismiss Indian media as presenting you with news. It's only "infotainment" and paid editorials. The rot runs deep but fortunately for us - the Internet allows us to compare and see. However I think 90% of India are being hoodwinked by these frauds.

SandeepA · Post by **SandeepA** » 29 Sep 2014 06:38

Feels like there is a gag order issued on Modi visit coverage in US media

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 29 Sep 2014 06:44

BajKhedawal wrote:How long till Eleven Dijin-pin Pong would book Madison charbagh, and fill it with his palty dlones to do a equal - equal with Modi?

Just now heard on NPR two developments in China - Big protests in Hong Kong but more importantly on Economic front China is going to allow 24 hitherto banned items that could be manufactured now by firang companies in Shanghai. It is first such allowance anywhere on main land China. Yachts and other luxury vessel building is specifically mentioned. Is this a reaction to PM Modi being being courted by several big US industrials?

HK protests could be a US play to twist Chinese arm just like what they (err ... we) engineered in Ukrain. It is highly probable that any "inititative" of this kind would spin out of our control (given the quality of grey matter between the ears of the Foggy Bottom mandarins I think it will A.S. spin out of control ).

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 29 Sep 2014 06:49

shiv - the problem is that these "paid media" were looking for a reaction and some people lost their cool with Mr. Sardesai. What should have been done was to simply have ignored them and crowd around DD and DD only. Then they wold have been reduced to interviewing Dr. A. Chatterji, her hubby and the UPenn pair Prof. Kaul and Prof. A. Loomba.

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 29 Sep 2014 07:28

Guys, lets distinguish between news and opinion. I cannot imagine anyone manufacturing news. In other words, if an event happens, like election results, or a plane crashes, or even weather, one can't manufacture such things. Facts are facts. Now where things get murky is the spin different news outlets put on that, as paid agents.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 29 Sep 2014 07:43

CRamS wrote:Guys, lets distinguish between news and opinion. I cannot imagine anyone manufacturing news.

CRamS you must also distinguish between personal incredulity and facts.

An example I heard was about the recent death of the last ruling male member of the Mysore royal family. The news apparently went something like this :, After the news of his death his wife the Maharani arrived from Mysore in her BMW series 7 . It was decided that the body -blah-blah-blah after which the family left in their BMW series 7 . Later the nephew for xyz arrived in his BMW (insert variant here)

Another "news item" was "Boy breaks arm after fall from tree". The "tree house" at XYZ resort was the site of an accident while the ayah of a boy blah blah blah. XYZ resort is a 5 star resort 8 km from Bangalore off airport road which offers luxury villas and attractive holiday packages for corporate houses.

The "manufacture" of news becomes possible because real news is ignored and nonsense news is published so that people who pay for their name to appear get their name in the news.

For the last 4 weeks in India Sonam Kapoor has been getting her mugshot and opinion published in the papers almost every day. Sonam Kapoor reacts to Deepika's cleavage crisis. "Sonam Kapoor says she is afraid of cockroaches". This is news. Getting a 2.5 cm square photo of one's mom in the paper after she kicks the bucket sets you back by Rs 3000. So you can imagine what these people are paying the media.

Nowadays Friedman is appearing in Hindi paper editorials and people are going around quoting his opinion as that of some guru.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 29 Sep 2014 07:45

"are you planning to stay in the religion" - unbelievably low.

these people have internalised the "hindu = caste, communal, bad and to be ashamed of etc" so much that they were probably bewildered by tulsi - a non-indian heritage person proudly flaunting indicness and hinduness.