Recent visit by the US Defense secretary Robert Gates has given some signs that are alarming to say the least.
He has repeatedly stated to the press that 'India cannot be expected to show restraint in face of yet another attack similar to that of 26/11'.
This single statement is actually thought provoking. It could be construed as
i. US agreeing to Indian viewpoint on pressuring Pakistan to act on 26/11 perpetrators and the terrorists on their soil in general.
ii. Or like journalists suggest, is the US pressing Pakistan to act on Af-Pak border using India as a threat?
iii. Or is the US playing it smart and setting up ground for India to attack Pakistan on its behalf?
If the US is losing its hope on Pakistan's ability to reign in the terrorists, why is it going around giving away twelve drones to the PAF?
It is not like the US is having great success in either IRAQ or Afghanistan with the mightiest and technologically the most advanced fighting forces in the world, for it to comment on Pakistan, a third world country that's barely standing on its feet with its own problems.
As for US just using India as a threat to force Pakistan to act, Pakistanis could be temperamental, but they are no fools. Cunning as a fox, they will not hesitate run into China's wide open arms should US play tough. Bad news US. I, personally think that may not work that well.
Even if the Indian policy makers decide to wage a war on Pakistan when god forbid another terrorist strike happens, with US's tacit approval, it would only spell disaster. China will be quick to blame US for encouraging India and start providing arms to Pakistan free. Worse, it might start exerting pressure on eastern borders to distract India. If the NATO countries rally behind India, it won't be long before Iran, North Korea , Venezuela and a few vocally anti american countries to join the fray to support China's hands! What could taste better than the joining the world's emerging super power in challenging the might of the ageing super power? A golden opportunity for forging a super alliance and changing the axis of world powers. A perfect recipe for WW3.
In all of it, the losers are India and Pakistan.
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