New Delhi
4 May 2011
India has reminded the US, flush from its success in liquidating Osama bin
Laden, that the war on terror cannot end without the elimination of terrorist safe havens
inside Pakistan.
India was categorical that Osama's death was "not an end of what remains an ongoing
war" against terrorism. More so because Al Qaeda's affiliates such as the Lashkar-e-
Tayyiba (LeT) remain formidable and continue to espouse violent ideology.
At the same time, Osama's killing had brought home the cold reality that India was
"alone" in its fight against terrorism: That Washington could not be expected to fight
Delhi's battles, and that Pakistan's strategic value to the US will likely remain.
Another reality was that while Osama's killing would have brought closure for the 9/11
victims in the US, there could not be any for the 26/11 victims till the terrorist camps in
Pakistan or Pakistani-held territory were dismantled.
An official source explained away the difficulties by saying that there will always come
moments in the US' relations with Pakistan when certain decisions that will be taken will
not be palatable to India.
However, the source was quick to point out that there were reasons for India to be
"satisfied" with how its ties with the US had "matured" over the years, and that both
sides were collaborating on issues of mutual interest or concern.
For instance, New Delhi would be looking to Washington for its views about whether and
how "Operation Geronimo" would affect the balance of power between civilian
government and the military in Pakistan.
New Delhi was assessing the impact of Osama's killing on the role of the "larger than
life" institutions in Pakistan such as the army and the ISI as it could have a bearing on
Pakistan's disposition towards India, and tied to it would be the fate of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's Pakistan initiative and the resumed peace process.
Another issue that will engage the attention of India going forward is Afghanistan, as the
US prepares to draw down its forces there. New Delhi was against allowing Islamabad a
veto over India's role in Afghanistan.
These, and other issues, were expected to come up in the second round of the India-US
strategic dialogue, to be held in July, when US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will
arrive here for talks with external affairs minister SM Krishna.
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