Love Thine Enemies
India is surprising the world with an abrupt political about-face in two of its most bitter rivalries.
The first shocker came when Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani leader General Pervez Musharraf entered talks in January. Few border disputes are as bitter as the rift over the northern region of Kashmir. Since achieving independence in 1947, the two countries have gone to war three times, twice over Kashmir. As recently as 2002, India and Pakistan were on the brink of all-out war.
In the first week of this year, however, the feuding nations set aside differences to meet in Islamabad, with more talks to take place this month.
At the same time, India is seeking closer ties with another longtime opponent, China. China has traditionally supported Pakistan and has been at odds with India over the Indian-Chinese border for decades; the two countries even fought a brief war in 1962 over the disputed territory. Indian strategic defense analysts have long referred to China as the “northern threat.” But India is beginning to warm up to its neighbor. In late 2003, Indian and Chinese naval vessels cooperated in a joint naval exercise—only the second time the Chinese navy has conducted such an operation. In mid-January, negotiators met in Beijing for talks aimed at ending the border dispute.
Why is India changing its tune with two of its main regional rivals? Because it is seeking to be a regional power.
“India has long considered itself a major global player, or at least a major Asian power, and it has been deeply frustrated until now in not being regarded as a formidable actor on the international and Asian scene” (Asia Times, Dec. 25, 2003). Prime Minister Vajpayee has instructed planners to up their defense strategies from sub-regional to regional and international levels.
Once New Delhi has tidied up relations with two significant thorns in its flesh, India will be ready to project its power more vigorously in the region as it continues its military buildup.
For more on this subject, see our article “What’s Ahead for India?” in Editor’s Choice on www.theTrumpet.com.
