By Sajjad Shaukat
During the last two decades, political analysts
have been opining that the US which is acting upon a secret strategy, wants to
make India the superpower of Asia in order to counterbalance China, while this
game was, openly, disclosed by the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
who was on three-day trip to India in 2011.
In this respect, on July 20, 2011, the US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged India to be more assertive in Asia,
saying that the country should play more of a leadership role. She explained,
“India has the potential to positively shape the future of the Asia-Pacific.”
Clinton further stated, “India should play a role as a US ally in regional forums
such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).” On the other hand,
while concealing American double game, She remarked, “New Delhi could also help
promote trade links in violence-wracked South Asia, which would bring
prosperity and peace to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan…Pakistan must do more
to tackle terror groups operating from its territory being used for attacks
that destabilize Afghanistan or India.”
During his trip to Australia, on November 17,
2011, President Barrack Obama, while sending an unmistakable message to Beijing
said, “The United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay.” The then
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta also made statements in this connection
during his Asia visit. He revealed during his visit to Singapore that the US
will shift a majority of its warships to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020 as
part of a new US military strategy in Asia. Panetta’s Asia visit came at a time
of renewed tension between China and Philippines, the latter being a major US
ally.
With regards to strengthening its position in
the Pacific, America has also cultivated security relations with New Zealand.
It is also working with several Gulf countries to solidify its entrenchment in
the region. American strategic thinkers take China’s military modernization as
a great threat to its military bases in the continent.
During American President Barack Obama’s visit
to India, on January 25, 2010, the US and India announced a breakthrough on a
pact which would allow American companies to supply New Delhi with civilian
nuclear technology. On November 2, 2010, US agreed to sell India the most
expensive—the new F-35 fighter jets including US F-16 and F-18 fighters, C-17
and C-130 aircraft, radar systems, Harpoon weapons etc. Besides acquisition of
arms and weapons from other western countries—especially Israel, America is a
potential military supplier to India.
During President Obama’s second visit to India,
the US ensured India to permit American companies to supply India with civilian
nuclear technology, as agreed upon in 2008. US President Obama also
announced $4 billion of new initiatives aimed at boosting trade and investment
ties as well as jobs in India.
However, setting aside the Indian irresponsible
record of non-proliferation, and safety of nuclear arms, Washington also
pressurized the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) to sign an accord of
specific safeguards with India. America had already contacted the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) to grant a waiver to India for starting civil nuclear
trade on larger scale.
As part of the double game, based in
Afghanistan, operatives of American CIA, India RAW and Israeli Mossad which
have well-established their secret network in Afghanistan, and are
well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like ISIS, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their terrorists to
destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s
Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities. In this context, the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target. Recent acts of terrorism in
Pakistan’s Balochistan are part of the same scheme.
Undoubtedly, in case of Balochistan, these
militant outfits and separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army
(BLA) and their affiliated groups, including Jundollah (God’s soldiers) and
Lashkar-i-Janghvi which have been creating unrest in the Balochistan get
logistic support from RAW and Mossad with the tactical assistance of America.
In the recent years, these terrorist outfits massacred many persons through
suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. These
externally-supported insurgent groups had kidnapped and killed many Chinese and
Iranian nationals in Pakistan, including Iranian diplomats. They have claimed
responsibility for a number of terror assaults, including those on Shias in
Balochsitan and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan.
Notably, located on the southwestern coast of
Pakistan, Balochistan’s Gwadar deep seaport which is the main part of the CPEC
is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil
passes every day. Its location among South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and
oil and gas-resourced Central Asia has further increased its strategic
significance. Besides, Balochistan’s abundant mineral resources irritate the
eyes of the US, India and Israel which intend to weaken Pakistan for their
collective aims.
In this context, in his book, titled “The Pivot:
Future of American Statecraft in Asia,” published in June 7, 2016, America’s
former assistant secretary of state Kurt M. Campbell has confirmed a new major
shift in American foreign policy and its interests in Asia, while the US-led entities have already been playing out
American foreign policy drama far from the upheaval in the Middle East and
South Asia and the hovering drone attacks under the cover of the so-called the
war on terror.
After destabilizing the region of the Middle
East, the US is making giant strides in Asia Pacific in term of political,
economic and military engagement. The main aim of Pivot to Asia Pacific is to
counter a rising China, as the Campbell has analyzed.
The main irritant to US/India is “Pak-China
Partnership”, particularly the CPEC project. Surprisingly, the book has not
given importance to the said project, but it needs no justification that it is
the only irritant for US and its lynchpin in Pacific, India to gain larger role
in Asia.
The book holds significance for Pakistan,
because it is, in fact, premised on the idea to contain Chinese hegemony in the
region. The book offers a deep insight into US Asia Pivot policy.
But, by closely analyzing the US policy, there
is a need to develop a counter strategy seeking guidance from ten point
strategy which the author has recommended for America to implement Asia Pivot
in the Pacific region.
Plan for the Pivot is composed of ten core
elements including: clarifying the Pivot and mobilizing the public by
Presidential speeches and statements as well as an annual strategy documents,
articulating a whole-of-government approach to Asia.
While, bolstering and integrating alliances to
the American Asia allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, the
Philipines, Thailand, and Singapore (a quasi ally)—setting the contours of
China’s rise by embedding China policy fully within a larger Asia policy
framework, building partnership with Taiwan and New Zealand as well as new
partners including India, Vietnam, Indonesia—Malaysia and the Pacific island
states, embracing economic statecraft through the expansion of free trade
agreements and economic interaction, including through the passage of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), engaging regional institutions, diversifying
military forces, promoting democratic values, strengthening people to people
ties involving European partners, the heart of author’s argument is a 10-point
American strategy for Asia, in which he sets out in considerable details—his
recommendations for intensified political, economic and military engagement
with the various nations of the continent. But, he ignored the fact that the
real game changer in the region will be CPEC which will result in dependence of
the US and its allies on Pak-China Gwadar port for sea routes to Asia Pacific.
Given his diplomatic experience, the author is
well-informed and deeply thoughtful. He is considered as pioneer of “Asia Pivot
Policy”. Campbell’s main emphasis has been on greater boots and greater
engagement in the Asia Pacific region without realizing the US role in Middle
East and Afghanistan. While, without a stable Middle East, US would not be able
to implement the economic aspects of the Pivot, as narrated by Campbell,
because the two regions are separated apart by huge distances. A tumultuous and
neglected Middle East will not augment well for Asian Century.
While reading Preface and Acknowledgement of the
book, it appeared that Indian lobbyists and analysts were quite active in
formulation of the Pivot strategy. The author was also assisted by a number of
Indians for completion of this book. Campbell—assisted by Indians has suggested
to Washington engagement with a number of states which also includes Mongolia
and Burma, but there is no mention of Pakistan, which depicts strong Indian
influence over the said strategy formulation. Few policymakers in US have
termed India as lynchpin of US policies in the Pacific region.
China-Pak project-CPEC is facing challenges, as
it is being developed in least stable province of Pakistan. Foregoing in view,
the ten-point strategy, crafted in the book may also be relevant to China-Pak
for enhancing relevance in the Pacific region, while, Pakistan is likely
to counter Asia pivot policy in Asia Pacific.
Although in the book, author has also given some
positive suggestions to the US, yet in other words, he has confirmed American
designs to counterbalance China in Asia.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs
and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power:
Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com
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