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Journalism of Courage
By far the most significant element of Donald Rumsfeld8217;s visit to India was the acknowledgement that the US was aware that Al-Qaeda fighters were operating in Jammu and Kashmir close to the Line of Control. No one should expect the US at that high level to say more.
But the fact that the US Secretary of Defence thought it fit to make the information public is an indication of the challenges that both India and the US face, and the likely direction of his discussions in Islamabad. At one level this may shift the responsibility of cross-border terrorism from Islamabad to what has been often described as the 8220;stateless8221; groups of terrorists.
For us it should not matter whether the target is described as Al-Qaeda or by another name. Terrorists will remain terrorists regardless of the title their group bears. And Al-Qaeda has not proved to be any less unbeatable than, say, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.
What is worth noting is that with Al-Qaeda let loose in J038;K, the US war against terrorism comes even closer to our war against cross-border terrorism in terms of even tactical objectives, leave alone the larger strategic goals. Given its strong diplomatic position during the past fortnight, especially its categorical assurance of Islamabad living up to its promises of choking infiltration and terrorist infrastructures, the US seems to have assumed the responsibility of being the guarantor of halting cross-border terrorism permanently.
This does not mean that we would not have to maintain the strategy of political-military pressure on Islamabad to reverse its policies. What it does imply is that a co-ordinated Indo-US strategy is more likely to produce favourable results than a unilateral one.
Deeper involvement by the US may well increase the apprehension levels in some quarters of increasing our dependence on Washington. But this must be seen in the context of New Delhi8217;s clear position that any de-escalation would be in tune with the practical steps taken by Islamabad to permanently seal infiltration and dismantle sanctuaries and financial support to the terrorist organisations. The US is strategically engaged with countries of Southern Asia.
The difference from any earlier period is that its interests and objectives and ours converge markedly. The US has been emphasising that the Kashmir issue must be resolved bilaterally and peacefully and we should continue to hold them to it. In the process if its engagement nudges Islamabad toward a more co-operative approach, so much the better.
