Islamabad
Following its defeat in Afghanistan and the swift fall of Kabul to Taliban which has surprised the world, mainly the US and India, it appears that the America led Western bloc is looking to consolidate its position in the Indo-Pacific region.
A report released by Kashmir Media Service, today, said the US has displayed clear indications of its changed policies with regards to the region following Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan.
Asia–Pacific will mainly be now the new focus of the US, it added. The report said, formation of the AUKUS military pact among Australia, the UK and the US highlights new key players in Asia-Pacific and has created major fissures between apparent allies within the Western bloc.
It said, formation of AUKUS defence pact comes within a month after the US exit from Afghanistan and that it is aimed at consolidating US alliances in Indo-Pacific against China
It further said, newly formed security pact by Australia, the UK and the US in the form of AUKUS has triggered great concern among ASEAN countries.
In this regard, the report cited a phone conversation between Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton in which the former had emphasized that the establishment of AUKUS will potentially disrupt peace and stability in the region, particularly in the South China Sea.
The report added that several other countries have expressed their concern over the formation of the pact and called on Australia to give up the power game and nuclear weapons development in the Indo-Pacific region.
The report said, the US new security partnership with Australia and the UK in the Indo-Pacific region is an embarrassment for India as it was not taken into confidence over the formation of AUKUS.—INP
