The U.S. administration has once again asked Pakistan not to “interfere” in India. The Bush government feels that Pakistan’s reported support to Kashmiri and Sikh militants amounts to supporting “terrorism.” In fact, in May the secretary of state James Baker had written to Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif threatening to dub Rawalpindi in the list of “terrorist” states if Pakistan continued backing militants in the two states. A U.S, state department official who preferred anonymity has been quoted by an Indian news agency as remarking that U.S. had certain “common interests” with India and he mentioned “respect for democracy, open and free economic system and respect for human rights.”

There is no doubt that the U.S, administration’s attitude towards the Kashmir and Punjab problems is well thought out and does not suffer from any incoherence. The administration is convinced that the movements in Kashmir and Punjab are terrorist in nature and do not have wide-spread support of the population.

These assumptions are highly arbitrary and are wide off the mark, No one in India believes that the freedom movement in Kashmir lacks popular support. Indian newspapers are full of statements and writings suggesting complete sway of the movement. India, in fact, dare not hold the long over-due election in Kashmir precisely because it fears the voting pattern or its absence will expose Delhi’s total isolation from among the people of Kashmir. As for Punjab, it was held in certain circles until recently that the movement for Khalistan did not enjoy popular backing. This impression was effectively dispelled by the results of the February poll to the Punjab Assembly. The Khalistan groups had issued a joint call for a boycott of the election to which as high as 80% of the electorate responded despite the presence of more than half a million strong India armed forces in Punjab, In fact, some of the pro-India parties such as C.P.I., C.P.(M), B.J.P. and the Bahujan Samaj Party had issued public Statements alleging rigging of whatever votes were cast by the Indian security forces, Traditional Akali groups which for decades swore by India passed resolutions supporting Khalistan and affirming that they recognized pro-Khalistan militants as their leaders.

In view of these facts no one in his senses will argue that the popular movements in Kashmir and Punjab are mere terrorism and that India is practicing democracy in these two states, As for India’s respect for human rights, the United States’ own Congress passed a resolution recently strongly deprecating widespread violations by certain countries including India. By praising India’s alleged respect for human rights, the U.S. administration appears determined to mock the valid assessment of the situation in India by the U.S. representatives.

It is thus obvious that the Bush administration is taking a biased view of India. The administration has unwisely written off the people of Kashmir and Punjab. It is evidently more concerned about India’s so-called economic liberalization measures and the opportunities these offer to the U.S. businessmen. The emerging economic problems are compelling the administration to look for countries to do business with. India is being viewed as such a partner. But then why make a song and a dance of India’s non-existent democracy? Or, talk of the alleged terrorism in Kashmir and Punjab and the claimed support to then by Pakistan? The Bush administration could afford to be a little less unabashed in its reactions to India’s handling of Kashmir and Punjab. Let the Kashmiris and Sikhs in the U.S. appraise the administration of the ground realities.

However, no one need be oblivious to the fact the U.S. administration’s support to India is underwritten. India’s clever ruling class fell at the U.S, administration’s feet soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was clear to India that it could no longer remain in one piece. The Brahman rulers, therefore, struck a deal with the Bush administration. India as the future ally of the U.S. No voting against the U.S. on any count. Joint military exercises. India as an underwritten military ally, Free access to U.S. businessmen ‘in India. And, in return, the U.S. will take care of freedom movements within India. It will extend liberal financial help directly as well as through the I.M.F. India, in short, is viewed as the last U.S. post in south Asia to contain China. No wonder, in keeping with the deal, the Bush administration is determined to remove irritants like Pakistan to strengthen India vis-a-vis China. In the process, the Kashmiris and Sikhs are being dubbed as terrorists. The American public has to make a correct assessment of the Bush administration’s unprincipled and opportunist policies vis-a-vis the freedom movements in Punjab and Kashmir, India has to free Kashmir and Punjab or get militarized. It has opted for the latter, It is spending billions of dollars on armaments including nuclear weapons. No amount of economic liberalization can prevent India from being bankrupt soon, The U.S. administration’s reliance on Delhi to bail out the U.S. businessmen is misplaced. A bankrupt India can not be a viable U.S. ally. Just as the Soviet Union first became bankrupt and then disintegrated. India is bound to follow suit. No amount of U.S. breast beating about the so-called terrorists in Kashmir and Punjab and the alleged support these movements get from Pakistan can shut from the public eye the realities in the two states.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 7, 1992