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A Kashmir initiative by America, however "veiled", can undermine improving Indo-US ties, Selig S Harrison, director of Asia Programme at the Center for International Policy and a senior scholar of the Woodrow Wilson International, said an opinion piece published in The Washington Times.
"President-elect Barack Obama has made his first big foreign policy mistake - pledging US intervention in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan," he wrote.
In an interview to the Time magazine in October last year, Obama had said that Kashmir is a place he wanted to "devote serious diplomatic resources to get a special envoy in there, to figure out a plausible approach".
Harrison, who specialises in South Asia and East Asia for past 50 years, said Obama would face resistance from not only India, but also Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.
"By questioning Indian control of the Kashmir Valley, the United States would strengthen jihadi forces in both Islamabad and Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. More importantly, it would undermine improving US-India relations," he argued.
"A US Kashmir initiative, however veiled, would poison relations between New Delhi and Washington," he said.
Harrison said the rationale for intervention is that fear of India requires Pakistan to strengthen its western front in Afghanistan by supporting the Taliban.
But the reason for Pakistani support of the Taliban and jihadi forces in Kashmir is that its military and intelligence agencies are riddled with Islamists, he said.
"The appointment of a high-level regional envoy in South Asia to promote cooperation among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan in combating al-Qaeda and its allies would be desirable in the aftermath of Mumbai. But Kashmir indeed would be a tar pit for such an envoy," Harrison said.
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Obama's Right Diagnosis of the South Asian ProblemsHaarison's views are biased and against the peace and propserity of 1.7billions population of south Asia.Obama team should handle the Kashmir conflict as their no 1 agenda point of foreign policy - being 62 year old bone of contention between two nuclear powers.If KASHMIR CONFLICT - will not been given its top priorty bu US then the whole global peace will remain in danger due to a possibility of a nuclear war. Clinton and Carter can jointly handle this project effectively for the global peace.
its clear that even US president donot have freedom of speech.to say about Obama's statement as big mistake is only a miscalculated and lake of information about situation about the region.US could not save its interests in region forgeting or keeping Pakistan aside.when Pakistan says that peacful region is bpth in the interests of Pakistan and India,it really does mea some thing very important.Its reality that if Kashmiries really want to live with India than thier must not have been the deployment of one million army,and resistence must have been own bith sides of Kashmir but fact is that it is just on Indian occupied Kashmir.i requst that it that Kashmir should not be seen ethnic grounds but on human grounds.ALLAH HAFIZ
US has funded and trained taliban aginst russian and when they truned aginst them they want to clear them of the region, The same with pakistan they had backed them since 60 years aginst India , we cant trust US
yes both of us should not trust US and we should kick US out of the region.
Mr. Krishna(kerala) Don't use words that harm communal harmony Your IP is noted
It is a good idea to appoint a special US envoy to Subcontinent to handle the situation. He should try to bring peace to Kashmir by getting India and Pak to agree to make the temporary line of control to become permanent borderline between the countries.Then PAK and India not worry about Kashmir and concentrate on economic developments.In Srilanka, US envoy should develop a solution similar to Bosnia and create an independent state for Tamils , so that peace can return to Sri Lanka
I am glad that Mr. Obama come to his senses before he put his thoughts in to action. In my view the best solution to Kashmir issue is to let keep both country (Pakistan and India) the part of Kashmir they control.
ITS ONLY WHAT U CAN DESIRE BUT FACTS REMAIN FACTS,U MUST NEED EXAMIN THE REPORT WHICH WAS PREPEARED A COMMISSION IN PRESENT GOVT TO SEE THE PLIGHT OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA,AND SURELY U WILL REALIZE THAT INDIA SHOULD NOT HAVE CLAIM ON KASHMIR ON MORAL GROUNDS,SURELY U WILL DO IT.AN OTHER POINT IS WHY RESISTENCE IS ON YOUR SIDE OF KASHMIR.
Lets have a Pakistani Commision on how what happened to the Hindus in Pakistan. How come 79% of Muslim population (in 1941 census) has become 98% in (1991 census). A bigger genocide than Holocust.
Ok,lets hav a joint commission on this issue from where u want.dear,for ur information hindus from our side just migerated from Punjab,not from other provinces of Pakistan.there fore thier migration might be they were feeling insecure of thier future due massacre and looting of migrating muslim from ur side by sikhs and hindus.history shows that we never attacked any church,mandir, gurdwara or any other religious buildings of minorities.BUT,u hav many examles.few i would like to remind u(attack on Babri masjid,killing of two thousand muslim in Gujrat sponsered by urBJP,attack on Golden temple,occupation of Kashmir and killing of 80,000 kashmiries,hundreds of christians in Asam,Malay gaon,samghota express by millitary and many more
Dear Sir, Mr. Harrison is right that Mr. Obama's statement regarding Kashmir was his mistake in foreign policy. No one who has read the history correctly can question India's right over whole of Kashmir. If US President-elect does any thing against this history then he will be loosing India and Indian-Americans as his supporters. On the contrary he , after assuming office, must force Pakistan to vacate forthwith the portion of Kashmir it has kept occupied illegally since 1948. This should be his starting line for handling Kashmir.
history is not important here,bcoz Kashmir might be ahindu state in the past,but people of Kashmir turned or converted in to muslim and it is established fact that they want to live with Pakistan where they can practice religion freely,not under the shadow of RSS,BJP,VHP,etc.
my dear concept of once in world is no more,if ur r saying that once it was a hindu state than thier must hav been hindues all over but now its most of population is muslim, and its a fact that they want to with amuslim state rather than a hindu state,where the they can practice religion freely, not under the supperession of RSS,BJB,VHP,etc.
Let Kashmiri people decide there Fate.It is not correct to rule the people on the bases of army [as we have nearly 800,000 in small kashmir region].I know it is hard to swallow but it is the only solution
USA IS A PROBLEM NATION, CREATED OUT OF THE MURDER OF THE LOCAL RED INDIANS BY THE EUROPEAN CHRISTIANS. USA IS ABUSING THE WORLD RESOURCES AND IS CORNERING THE WEALTH OF THE WORLD. PAKISTAN WAS ALWAYS THE BASE OF USA GIVEN TO USA BY THE BRITISH. USA INFLAMED THE ISLAMIC JIHAD TO THE PRESENT LEVEL THAT IT IS THREATENING THE WORLD PEACE. WE SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED THIS INTERNATIONAL BULLY NATION. UNFORTUNATELY, AK ANTHONY WHO CAME UP AS A POLITICIAN DURING THE CIA FUNDED VIMOCHANASAMARAM OF KERALA, AND HE HAD MADE USA OUR MAIN DEFENCE SUPPLIER. THE VERY KASHMIR PROBLEM IS THE CREATION OF NEHRU, WHO TOOK IT TO UN ON THESUGGESTION OF HIS LOVER, LADY MOUTBATTEN AND IT HAS BECOME A FESTERING WOUND NOW. ONE OF THE SUGGESTION WE COULD CONSIDER IS THAT SENT ALL MUSLIMS IN INDIA TO KASHMIR AND LET KASHMIR GO ON ITS OWN WAY. MUSLIMS CANNOT CO EXIST WITH OTHER RELIGIONS AS CAN BE SEEN IN LEBANON.
Oooh!its India accusing other nations where at least 112 sepratists movements going on,sorry if i forgot about few.
USA NO MATTER WHAT PARTY COEM TO POWER WILL FAVOR PAKISTAN INDIA IS THE TARGET KASHMIR IS ALWAYS AN EYE OPEN HONALULU FOR USA AN ANOTHER STRONG BASE FOR THE UNITED STATES NAER THE HILLS OF HIMALAYAS AGAINST CHINA AND RUSSIA. SINCE TIME OF JAWAHARLAL NEHU USA TRIED CIA PLOT ASSASINATIONS AGAINST INDIRA GANDI AND SO MANY OTHERS BHARATHAM USA CANNOT DIRECTLY PLAY POLITICS TRIED TRYING AND WON BECUASE OF MR SINGH IS KING A KHAYAL PRIME MINISTER SURENDER GOLDEN TEMPLE TO EQUAL TO VAJPAYE SWEAT KARGIL TO PAKISTAN AND VIA USA.
Why are we skeptical on US interference in Kashmir issue, why were we running after them to come and bark for us on Mumbai attacks, we could have handled it ourselves. You have opened the gate for their influence into our system. Damm you, you bought disaster on yourself for petty political gains.. the bluddy POLITICIANS.
Yes totally Agreed, this should happen to the insane indian government, we tamil people also want to liberate from insane Indian Government who want us to fight for them but not support in Srilanka. Please break it up we will help. Shit go the indian govenment and the congress party with Gandhi and family.
Agree about Sri Lanka and Indians were wrong for not helping tamilians there. Problem is, when India breaks up, pieces will keep fighting each other until the end of time - just like the old days. Cant say thats a good idea for the people of India.
all those who are advocating to help tamils in Srilank is utterly wrong. Prabhaakaran is the head of Terrorist group LTTE who are waving a war against the Srilankan government for the last so many years. Damm't. He should be given the harshest punishment by cuting his body inch by inch and it should take at least minimum 6 months for him to die, so that he can understand the pains of innocent people of Sinhalese suffered. Those who are advocating for tamil Elam or separate nation in Srilanka should be severely punished. Indian government should not give any support whether they are tamils, Telugu, Malayali or Hindi speaking people. Whoever propogate terrorism should be severely punished.
US intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq itself tell the story. As mediator world hasseen for last 15 yrs the conditions of Palestinians worsning. Their involvment is onlyfor their national interest and not for other nation welfare or interests. Its them theysupported
Why is it better to have US support in Mumbai attacks or other issues but when it comes to issue of Kashmir, US support is seen with doubt. Let us be fair in all affairs. Either US intervention on all issues or no intervention at all.thanksajaz