Eminent American officials went into “damage control mode” this Wednesday after New Delhi reacted sharply to Washington’s endorsement of a Chinese role in South Asia, saying US relationship with China would not be at India’s expense. We are proud that Dr.Manmohan Singh has given such engaging declarations since it necessarily silences those who thought he was a puppet in Sonia Gandhi’s governance. The man has more mind and leadership qualities that are far from reticent.
“Of course, the United States is interested in pursuing the best and healthiest possible partnership with China; but that does not come at the expense of other increasingly important partnership, particularly our relationship with India,” Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Williams Burns said in response to a question during a preview of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit here next week.
The U.S. have their fair plays of diplomacy, and more often than not they want to let the world know that they are somehow uninfluential. Arundhati Roy has reprimanded the nation as always triggering a double-faced show on the universal platform. They are perhaps never cognizant of what IS happening, they only rant about what could be happening. That’s a leadership tactic, and there are dirty ones too, but this nation has always found a way to keep it’s hands clean. Bush was himself a cause of uncontrollable outrage in Chicago several years ago, when he was held responsible for the death of thousands at war.
However recently , Burns, the No.3 official in the State Department said the reference in the joint US-China statement with regard to common international concerns, collective concerns about Afghanistan in particular, “is a very straight forward expression of that we look to China, we look to India, as many other countries in the world, to contribute to stability in Afghanistan.” I am sure we can have a parliamentary battle on that topic in our country, (hypothetical situation), and I don’t know how many Americans know this but our politicians and MLAs are absolutely comparable to the typical dangerous American lunacy that we see at demonstrations which are hostile! When shouting does not resolve situations it comes to assaults, and we have had those chappal flying , hot-blooded frustration fervor quite a number of times in Indian Parliament.
But the point is Dr. Manmohan Singh has his cold nonchalance and it is a sight to see him go on performing his addressals een in the face of absolute havoc.
To America’s representation came Burns’ remark( were echoed by Robert Blake, the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia,) who also suggested that the US-China joint statement related more to concerns about the Af-Pak region. Politics is about how much majority you can gather, but more so it is about ability to keep on your tips what is the limit of your litheness and compromises with each nation in accord with their international portfolios.
Current and former officials suggested the mention of India and Pakistan did not mean the US believed China has any locus standi as an interlocutor and Washington was as keen to discuss regional issues with India as much as with China.
“I believe this (joint statement) was aimed at Af-Pak and could prove to be very helpful, if not now then down the road,” former Assistant Secretary of State Karl Rick Inderfurth said. “I do not believe this statement was aimed at India-Pakistan issues (nor should it be) and, thus, one should certainly not read too much into it.”
