Centre for Policy Research - Currents - US relations with China, Pakistan, and India - Brief Article

New Internationalist, Oct, 2002

India & Pakistan

'A GROWING US policy is to engage with countries which have unresolved disputes with China so as to contain China,' says Bharat Karnead, strategic-affairs expert with the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, India. This is a factor in the turnaround of US support for Pakistan since 11 September. Pakistan, traditionally an ally of China, was condemned by the US in 1990 when it was discovered to be developing nuclear missiles. But on 14 September 2001 Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf went from pariah to hero when he pledged total support for a US-led multinational force into Afghanistan. The US has lifted sanctions on Pakistan, which should mean that direct sales of arms can now take place.

The US is also, however, now attempting to deal evenhandedly with India in the dispute over Kashmir. As a consequence the US now proposes to grant Pakistan and India $52 million each for military training, services and equipment in 2002.

Nevertheless, US activity in the region weighs heavily on both countries. Peace activists say that if the US positions its National Missile Defense Systems near China as planned then China will respond by increasing its nuclear capability. This will provoke India to increase its nuclear-weapon capability, which in turn will stimulate Pakistan to match India. The net effect will be that without a bomb being dropped three of the world's most populous countries will divert state funding needed for rural development, water, food and health into arms stockpiling instead, propelling their people deeper into poverty.

Sources: www.hrw.org/reports/2002/usmil/USass0202-02.htm#p194_31843 www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleD=00087D79-AA4B-1C6E-84A9809EC588EF2 1 www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unmogip/unmogipB.htm