The Clinton event

The much debated -- and anticipated -- visit has got a date now. President Bill Clinton, the most influential politician in the world, wil...

The much debated 8212; and anticipated 8212; visit has got a date now. President Bill Clinton, the most influential politician in the world, will be in India for five days from March 20. It is a big visit 8212; and every visit by the American president to a foreign country has to be big. For, despite all that talk about the diminishing powers of Uncle Sam, the US continues to be the only power that not only thinks big but takes a very big interest in the world beyond the borders. The US plays out the national interest internationally.

The interest of William Jefferson Clinton is national, personal and historical. After Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, he is the only American president who has enlarged the scope of the White House in accordance with domestic exigencies and historical requirements. The commentariat has never been charitable to him, and history, the overwhelming obsession of this president, is still struggling to separate the Personal Bill from the Presidential Clinton.

He may have been personallyreckless, but he is politically daring, and unarguably, he is the smartest of his generation, a much-copied model for every market socialist. His job rating is high, America is prosperous, unemployment is under check, and President Clinton has quite a few peace trophies collected from the once volatile Armageddons of the post-Cold War world. He has made the American interest globally decisive, and most of those who have a problem with him are the real problems of a civilised world order, really.

So what is the American interest in India? Or, what is the Indian interest in America? The questions are relevant because New Delhi and Washington have no insurmountable problems with each other. But a very audible section within and without the government thinks that there is a very big problem and that is Pakistan. Really? Is it anything more than India8217;s obsession and America8217;s historical habit? India, South Asia8217;s only stable democracy and market, has to learn to deal with a changing America without theso-called Pak question.

For, India, despite being a regional power with a functioning civil society, continues to be a bit unnecessarily paranoid. That is why New Delhi is unreasonably worried about a possible Clinton visit to Islamabad. India cannot do anything if he wants to go there. Don8217;t expect the American president to change the route according to your convenience. Rather, India should stop equating itself with Pakistan. India should realise its own worth and potential: a vibrant democracy and an emerging market. Washington seems to have acknowledged this positive status of India in South Asia. India has to overcome its own national complex.

The focus of this high profile visit should be about making the best out of a positive situation. True, the old Cold War obligation still influences the American mind when it comes to Pakistan. That makes no sense. For, Pakistan doesn8217;t really tally with America8217;s concept of a behaving8217; state. And if America is really worried about the Islamic threat, itcannot afford to be indulgent towards Pakistan 8212; a friend from the era of the Soviet threat.

Let Washington take its own time to become wiser. But that should not stop India from making meaningful friendship with the US 8212; as an independent, nationally confident regional power for which CTBT is not such a humiliating document. Like the distinguished visitor, the host too should have the right obsession: history.