deepak pace
DJ_DEE
Chandigarh, December 29
Policy makers in the United Stated are coming to believe what India has been saying for the past many years. “Pakistan is the epicentre of world terrorism. With this sinking into the circles that determine policy in Washington, it will force the US to re-think its foreign policy in South Asia. Obama will be forced to re-look at Pakistan, especially after it is now clear that Pakistan has been indulging in a double talk while supporting extremism.”
Expressing his opinion about the possibilities of Indo-US ties in particular under the Obama regime and US foreign policy in general, Dr Clifford A. Kiracofe Jr., Department of History, Department of International Studies, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, USA said, “Obama is expected to make some changes in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not as profound and rapid as one would like. But the US will be looking for greater strategic cooperation in South Asia, especially on the regional security issues”.
Organised by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) here today, Dr. Kiracofe, who has worked for the US Senate for 11 years said, “Analysts now believe that the Iraq war was the biggest strategic mistake in the history of the US. It is now expected to have a profound consequence which will mean that it will take a lot of effort to improve relations of the US with the Arab.”
Not mincing words about what policy makers thought of Pakistan, Kiracofe said, “After the Mumbai carnage, Obama will now be faced with the issue of how to promote democratic forces and roll back terrorist infrastructure backed by Saudi Arabia.” He said Washington was now truly fed up with Pakistan’s lies, double talk and support to Islamic terrorist. “Pakistan, which is being viewed as a semi-failed state, now stands exposed,” he said.
Kiracofe further said the US would also have to find a way to put some pressure on China asking it to stop helping Pakistan in its “misadventures”. “How Obama and his team does it, only time will tell.” So far, he said the US was not serious about analysing the Pakistan military and the situation there. “Obama and his team will now be forced to review it,” he added. He said there was no consensus yet on the US approach on Kashmir, but with improved Indo-US ties and things expected to getting better during the Obama regime, the US was likely to be more supportive of India’s view point. He said the US would find it difficult to curb jihadi elements in the Islamic world, but would have to deal with the situation. Among the Muslim nations, Obama had expressed his openness to talk to Iran, he disclosed.
