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| Obama heightens anxiety on Kashmir | | | | India is worried and genuinely so about the remarks by US President-elect Barack Obama on Jammu and Kashmir. He has made it clear, on at least three occasions, that he will urge India and Pakistan to resolve the issue so that the latter can be left free to pursue the war against terrorism in its northern areas and Afghanistan. He has also spoken of sending a special envoy to Jammu and Kashmir, to help both countries resolve the issue. Considering the fact that US President George W Bush, seeking to push through the nuclear deal as a priority item in his relations with India, had gone ‘soft’ on Kashmir, Obama’s assertions have rung some alarm bells in New Delhi. His suggestion of sending a special envoy for Kashmir has also raised hackles, with the establishment here becoming apprehensive of losing its special position in Washington as a result. The Kashmiri leaders, of course, have welcomed the statement but currently they are isolated in their enthusiastic response. Pakistan too is worried about shifts in policy, and how the foreign policy initiated by the Obama establishment will impact on it. India and Pakistan have progressed in bridging gaps of perception on Kashmir, and the current opening of the LoC for trade has been a major movement forward. President-elect Obama appeared to be responding in accordance with the old Democratic agenda on Kashmir, and has clearly still to analyse and understand the issue in the light of the improved relations between India and Pakistan. There is also truth in India’s position that it is for Pakistan to stop terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and allow peace to return. India, on its part, has been fairly accommodating on the issue and has participated in confidence building measures to ease tensions and allow people from both sides to meet more frequently. Both governments are not unnecessarily provoking each other any longer through ill-timed statements and accusations. There has been a perceptible difference since the last Democratic government was in power, and Obama’s administration will need to take stock of this before formulating a Kashmir policy, if at all. Kashmiri groups are all set to boycott the elections and the Central government insists on having its way through the use of force. But that is a different story, and clearly not within the US ambit. Obama will have to realise that stoking old fires at this point might not be conducive for improving relations with the world. |
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