The Indo-US Duet

Indian Prime Minister Modi visited the US for the fourth time in early June. For someone who had been barred from entering the US in 2005, for his role as chief minister in the massacre of Muslims in the Gujarat riots, this must be a record, though a highly dubious one. It proves once again that for both sides, principles are expendable despite their high-sounding moral rhetoric. Such double-standards are also clearly evident in the outcome of Modi’s latest pilgrimage to Washington.

The Indo-US Joint Statement of June 7 makes tall claims about the “world’s largest democracies” sharing “values of human rights, freedom and democracy” as well as their desire to “promote international peace and security” and “strengthening global non-proliferation”, among other noble objectives. A closer examination of their policies and actions over time in these areas, however, exposes their Orwellian double-speak. Indeed, the US and India are a “natural fit” as partners, though for less savoury reasons than they claim.

As for human rights, freedom and democracy, successive Indian governments have used the facade of democracy to trample on the human rights of Indian Muslims who have been subjected to discrimination and communal violence as in Gujarat, Bombay and other places, apart from the wilful destruction of the historic Babri Masjid. The situation has only worsened under Modi’s blatantly communal BJP government supported by Hindu extremist VHP and RSS parties. Now, even Christians and Sikhs are being targeted, with attacks on their communities and places of worship, along with pogroms for forced conversions to Hinduism. In addition to the organised state persecution of Kashmiri Muslims and denial of their right of self-determination, discrimination is also faced by India’s Dalits, the so-called ‘untouchables’, and indigenous peoples, especially in the Indian Northeast. Resultantly, 17 insurgencies are rampant in the rural districts of the Northeast, West Bengal, Bihar and UP.

In the US, despite constitutional guarantees and the civil rights movement, discrimination against African-Americans has remained rampant. Even though a ‘black’ President has been elected twice, a 2012 survey exposed that 51 per cent of Americans expressed anti-black sentiments. Another survey claims that African-Americans are nine times more likely to be killed by the police than whites. In 2015 alone, American policemen killed 1,134 young black citizens. African-Americans also constitute the highest percentage of prison inmates, or those on death row, or those already executed. Now, white America is turning on Muslims, who are increasingly subjected to discrimination, racist immigration policies and intrusive surveillance. Besides burning the Quran in Miami and refusing permission to build mosques (ground-zero in New York), Muslim citizens of the US are being pilloried for being terrorists. Donald Trump may be crude but he is honestly expressing the views of white America. Add to this toxic brew the use of torture and abuse of prisoners from Abu Gharaib to Kandhar, to Guantanamo Bay, by the US military and the CIA, (for which no one has been punished) while also accounting for the invasion of privacy, electronic surveillance and illegal executions through drone attacks.

As for international peace and security, both countries are engaged in a charade to contain China. Such cooperation goes back to the emergence of Communist China in 1949, when India helped the CIA promote the Kampa rebellion in the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet. Later, in 1962, a ‘non-aligned’ India knocked at Washington’s door for military help when its border provocation of the Chinese went horribly wrong. Now it’s time once again for both sides to play the China card for mutual benefit. For the US, India is being built-up militarily and economically as a counter-weight to China, while for India this is an ideal opportunity to become the regional hegemonic power. However, this dangerous entente can only destabilise the entire region as China will obviously react to protect its strategic interests. This will hardly contribute to international peace and security.

This American alliance against China is only one part of its policy to extend its sphere of influence. Just as the Monroe Doctrine was used to bring about regime change in Latin America, the Bush Doctrine, aiming to bring ‘democracy’ to the greater Middle East has devastated Iraq, Libya and Syria, not to mention the mess in Afghanistan. There is now a continuum of these policies under Obama. Similarly, Indian regional hegemony has led to the occupation of Kashmir and Sikkim, colonisation of Bhutan, aggression against Pakistan to create Bangladesh and interference in Sri Lanka. Consequently, India has lingering disputes with Pakistan, China, Nepal and Sri Lanka. India has also engaged in state-sponsored terrorism against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in pursuit of regional supremacy.

The Indo-US commitment to “strengthening global non-proliferation” is perhaps the most blatant hypocrisy of all. The US was the first to develop and use nuclear weapons (on Japan) and continues to maintain the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. Despite his 2009 Prague commitment to nuclear disarmament, Obama has launched an extensive and expensive ($3 trillion) nuclear weapons modernisation programme. Not only has the US developed and deployed ballistic missile defence systems in Europe against Russia, it is “revitalising” its nuclear arsenal with a new generation of weapons and delivery systems such as “precision guided” nuclear bombs, hypersonic glide vehicles, nuclear-armed cruise missiles and killer robots.

India’s proliferation record started with its nuclear test in 1974, which introduced the nuclear arms race in South Asia. This was followed up by its nuclear tests in 1998. Apart from refusing to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, India is increasing its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal, which has been accelerated by the US-enforced waiver from NSG restrictions. Therefore, India has not only increased its inventory of nuclear weapons but has also acquired land, air and sea-based missile delivery systems, including short, medium and long-range ballistic missiles. Reportedly, India is also developing hydrogen bombs.

These are but a few examples of the Indo-US duet that projects moralistic rhetoric to deceive the world from the realities of their policies. It is important for Pakistan as for others to differentiate their rhetoric from reality. In essence, the Indo-US partnership is a dangerous development that threatens not only peace and security in South Asia but in the world at large.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2016.

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