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An insight into US soft manoeuvres in India before the elections

Published : Tuesday, 2 April, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 713
Rajeev Ahmed
The US has made a so-called calculated move to bolster Indias position as a counterweight to Chinas growing influence in the region. Declaring India, the leader of the Indian Ocean signifies a strategic shift. This aligns with the recent QUAD summit, where the US, India, Japan, and Australia pledged their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Malabar naval exercises further underscore this deepening strategic partnership. These joint military manoeuvres prove Americas willingness to work alongside India to ensure a stable and secure maritime environment, potentially deterring Chinas assertive actions in contested waters.

This strategic alignment benefits both nations: the US gains a powerful ally, while India receives crucial support in its quest to become a leading regional power. However, seeing countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and even Bangladesh, it is essential for the United States to recognise that India is slowly alienating itself in the region due to its neocolonial policies supported by crony capitalism. This situation is worsened by the USs strategic focus on containing China.

Act I: The Global Custodian of Justice: In these interesting times, India, the wests touted worlds largest democracy, is in the spotlight. The central figure of this unfolding drama is Delhis Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21, 2024. He is now facing allegations of corruption and money laundering related to the Delhi excise policy. This move was condemned by his party as a "conspiracy" by Narendra Modis government to target the opposition before next months elections.

The United States, often portraying it as the global custodian of justice, has expressed concerns and called for a "fair, transparent, and timely legal process" for Kejriwal. However, India, specifically the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has firmly told them to "keep out of it".

The plot continues to develop. The crony capitalist run BJP, known for its fake strong position on so called national security of British origin and its manufactured mass scepticism towards foreign interference, portray this as an unwarranted intrusion into its judicial affairs. As usual, Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated its confidence in the countrys legal system, emphasising its independence and commitment to fair and swift trials.

Act II: US President Bidens Letter to Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: In a surprising development, US President Joe Biden wrote a letter to Pakistans Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on March 29, 2024. This is the first letter from President Biden to PM Sharif, marking a significant moment in US-Pakistan relations. The letter affirmed the USs support for Pakistan and emphasised the importance of their partnership in ensuring global security. The letter highlighted several key areas of cooperation, including health security, economic growth, education, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, water management, and human rights. It also mentioned the US-Pakistan "Green Alliance" framework and the USs commitment to help Pakistan recover from the devastating floods in 2022.

This move has intrigued observers worldwide, as it signals a potential shift in US foreign policy towards Pakistan. It also raises questions about the implications for regional dynamics, particularly given the complex history of US-Pakistan relations.

Act III: Inviting Kashmiris: In another interesting development, the US embassy has extended an invitation to a number of Kashmiris, encompassing student leaders, for an iftar gathering. This marks the first instance of the American Embassy reaching out to Kashmiris since the repeal of Article 370. This move has ignited conjecture about the motives of the US. Is it merely an act of kindness during the sacred month of Ramadan, or does it show a calculated manoeuvre by the US in the region? The implications are yet to be fully understood. Nonetheless, this invitation has introduced a fresh facet to the BJP before the election.

Act IV: Internal Turmoil, External Manoeuvring: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in December 2019, provides a fast track to citizenship for undocumented immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

However, this provision only applies to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians, with Muslims being excluded. Critics argue that the CAA discriminates against Muslims and violates Indias secular constitution, leading to protests that began in 2019 and continue in some areas. The US has expressed concerns about this religious bias.

In March 2024, India began implementing the CAA, reigniting discussions. The Indian government maintains that the CAA is about hastening citizenship for refugees facing religious persecution, not discriminating against Muslims. The US reaction to the CAA has been one of cautious criticism. The US State Department has voiced concerns about the CAA, particularly about its potential to discriminate against Muslims and its compatibility with Indias commitment to religious freedom. The US has said it is "closely monitoring" the CAAs implementation, showing continued interest in the situation. India rejected the US concerns as "misplaced" and "misinformed and emphasised that the CAA is an internal matter and pointed to Indias constitutional guarantee of religious freedom for all citizens.

Act V: The Sikh and Others: As we see, a recent wave of mistrust threatens to complicate the already complex relationship between India and the West. The targeted killings of prominent Sikh leaders in Canada and the US, allegedly by Indian intelligence agencies, have sparked outrage and suspicion. While India vehemently denies these accusations, the mere possibility has strained relations. It is important to consider that the 2010 leak of diplomatic cables hinted at US suspicions of Indian support for Baloch rebels in Pakistan, while India continues to harbour concerns about US backing for Kashmiri separatists.

The Final Act: Pressure and Negotiate: The BJPs ability to rebuild trust with the West during this period will be under scrutiny. This is crucial, as the West, particularly the United States, has significant geopolitical interests in the region. In these cases, the US is using the pre-election period, which is typically open to political pressure, dialogue, and negotiation. The goal seems to be to curb anti-Western sentiments within the BJP. The US thinks those could be achieved through various means, such as diplomatic pressure, discussions, policy negotiations, or even public statements that signal the USs stance without damaging the BJP to the core.

Epilogue: The Indo-Pacific Strategy: The USs actions seem to assume that the BJP will win the upcoming elections. However, the US aim is not just about who wins the election but also about how the winning party governs. The USs intention is to ensure that the BJP, even in victory, adheres to western values and supports a pro-Western stance. This is crucial for the US, as it would ease smoother cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the context of the USs Indo-Pacific strategy.

The writer of Bengal Nexus, and the Editor of geopolits.com


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