THE visit of US President Donald Trump to India has aptly been described by some analysts as big on photo opportunities but likely short on substance. The guest and the host – Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a big rally at Ahmadabad and the two exploited this PR opportunity to their own advantages but there was apparently lack of progress on real issues of bilateral trade, measures aimed at lowering regional tension and widespread unrest within India itself over divisive agenda of the Modi regime.
President Trump skipped Pakistan despite the fact that he has good rapport with Prime Minister Imran Khan and repeatedly pledged to visit the country. However, he tried to make amends for it by making a strong reference to Pakistan during his address at Ahmadabad stadium, which came as a rude shock to the Indian cabinet members sitting in front row there and also to other audience, who were previously enjoying Trump’s remarks about strong partnership of his country with India in the fight against terrorists and their ideology. The American President emphatically stated “Our relationship with Pakistan is a very good one. Thanks to these efforts, we are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan and we are hopeful for reduced tensions, greater stability and the future of harmony for all of the nations of South Asia”. This was, in fact, a subtle message to India not to raise tension in the region. However, irrespective of the apparently bold statement, the visit itself is seen as a sort of encouragement to Prime Minister Modi whose policies of unprecedented victimization of Kashmiris and Indian Muslims have not evoked strong reaction just in India but also around the globe. It was because of Modi’s murderous Gujarat background that the United States had banned his entry into the US but now with more blood on his hands, the US leader preferred visiting India to boost sagging morale of isolated Modi Government, which is under severe international scrutiny because of its pathetic human rights record. If Trump thought it appropriate to speak similar language on the issue of terrorism as India speaks, he ought to have forcefully raised the plight of Kashmiris who are worst victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Similarly, he should have plainly mentioned crude persecution of religious minorities especially Muslim by Modi Government. The issue was worth highlighting and the gravity of the situation can be gauged by the fact that as President Trump stepped on Indian soil Modi-backers turned berserk against Muslims protesting against the highly controversial Citizenship Act. Businesses of Muslims were set on fire besides mausoleums and media reports clearly mentioned that police played accomplice in the rampage.
There is no doubt that the US is eyeing at broader trade benefits with India but as a sole superpower it has responsibility to act when it comes to trampling of human rights of minorities and right of self-determination of people. The US is also vainly trying to use India in furtherance of its declared objective of containing China, which is making rapid progress both on economic and military fronts due to hard work of its people and visionary leadership. In its bid to prepare India as counter-weight to China, the United States is extending cooperation in sharpening military teeth of New Delhi forgetting that unlike China, India has an aggressive and monopolistic agenda and provision of all kinds of equipment and technology would increase the sense of insecurity among regional states. The Washington Post has also pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s embrace of Hinduism as a national unifying force raises questions for many regarding India’s commitment to liberal democracy as well as the nation’s future stability. Arming of such a state has its own consequences, which must not be overlooked by American policy-makers. Development of closer economic collaboration between two independent and sovereign states is something else but arming to the teeth of a state with questionable record and belligerent agenda needs to be reviewed as this poses existential threat to smaller nations. We also hope that President Trump would soon fulfil his pledge to visit Pakistan to discuss bilateral issues and get a briefing on the opposite viewpoint.
