New Delhi: Three days ago, when a White House spokesperson announced that US President Donald Trump would also attend the ‘Howdy Modi’ rally to be held in Houston on September 22, it created a stir in diplomatic circles across China and Pakistan.
Pakistan media channels questioned the move to be another gimmick of Trump or through this decision, the US is trying to put across the message that India-US relationship has reached a new level.
This is perhaps the first time in the history of America that its President will attend the rally of the premier of any other country. Such a decision is taken only after serious deliberation at the level of foreign policy.
It would be incorrect to say that Trump has taken this decision keeping in mind the presidential elections due in 2020. It is important to understand the background of this decision.
By increasing its strategic dominance in the South China Sea, China has challenged the legitimate interests of many countries including the US. China has asserted its claim over the large areas of South China Sea, its maritime areas and islands of many smaller countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. China has also staked its claim on a large part of international sea route of the South China Sea. On the other hand, there has been a war-like situation over trade between the US and China.
US President Trump has openly accused China of making billions of dollars by stealing the intellectual properties of American companies. Not only this, Trump requested American companies operating in China to either close their businesses there or move to another country.
The growing activities of Chinese navy in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean are also a matter of concern for the US, Japan, Australia and India. It is in this context that the American Defense Institute has introduced a new concept of Indo-Pacific maritime security rather than Asia-pacific, in which the Indian Navy has the larger role in planning to counter China’s military influence.
The annual joint military exercise between the United States, India, Japan and Australia should also be viewed in this context.
India’s policy had always been that close ties with the US should not adversely affect relations with China. But in the manner which China has openly favoured Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir recently, it has changed India’s policy for China.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s comment is pertinent that trade war is not always wrong; if it balances trade then it should be seen in a positive light. This was a direct message to China that the scope of mutual cooperation on trade and other issues is now narrowing. But it also does not indicate that India would like to be part of any anti-China military group.
Trump’s participation in ‘Howdy Modi’ rally is a clear message to China that the United States has decided to weaken China’s economic and military strength and that India is seen as a strong ally in this campaign.
China and Pakistan are being seen as twins these days on the political stage of the world. The manner in which China supported Pakistan on the question of Jammu and Kashmir in Security Council has a direct negative impact on India-China relations. After the abolition of Sections 370 and 35A, Pakistan launched a campaign to raise support against India at the international level, but no country other than China and Turkey gave statement against India’s decision.
The US administration has categorically stated that this is an internal matter of India. President Trump had tried to appease Imran Khan by offering to mediate in the Kashmir issue, but India immediately neutralized the effort. Now, by announcing his participation in the ‘Howdy Modi’ rally, President Trump has also sent out a clear message to Pakistan not to expect support against India on Kashmir issue.
Pakistan is no longer important in the context of US-India relations.
The way the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has been threatening a nuclear strike to India over the past one month, the US administration has reached the conclusion that Pakistan is an irresponsible country. Pakistan remains important in American strategy because of Afghanistan.
Now on reaching the dead-end in negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, the US pressure on Pakistan is increasing again to escalate military and diplomatic pressure on the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has realized from the series of events in the last few days that the US does not want to interfere in Kashmir.
Trump’s offer to mediate is just mere eyewash. Trump’s decision to participate in ‘Howdy Modi’ rally has made it apparent that Indo-US relations have been completely freed from the spectre of Pakistan. Pakistan is now deemed as an irritant only to be tolerated to a certain extent.
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