International Relations – J K News Today Commentary
Binoo Joshi
India will be committing a big mistake by reading all positives in Donald Trump’s victory as the 45th President of the United States of America in the delusion that his administration would be a diehard supporter of the country in South Asian region and the rest of the world.
In fact, his presidency that has triggered protests within America, with the shouts and placards: “ Not my President” , can bring India into harm’s way . The demographic composition of India , more or less like the U.S. , has its strength and weaknesses .
Given the acute political and communal polarization in the country, any extraordinary tilt by Government of India toward Washington D C. would have its unavoidable pitfalls. Trump is viewed as anti-Muslim in the eyes of the Islamic world . His campaign speeches against Muslims, Mexicans, immigrants and some countries of the world have been etched on the minds. He has given birth to an extremism that the extremists across the world have a cause in hand to respond with extraordinary push for more extremism . The clash of extremes spells out disasters of epic proportions. There is no clause for mercy in such situations.
Trump’s speech in which he explicitly expressed his love for “ Hindus” and used Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election time rhyming slogan, “ Aab ki Barr, Trump Sarkar” sounded music to many Indians , mostly Hindus . But that was not the case with the major minorities in the country who have their own view of Trump and the polarizing campaign with which he hit the ground running .
In the coming months , especially after January 20 when Trump delivers his inauguration speech as the new President of the USA , his attitude toward the non-white Americans, particularly Muslims- naturalized citizens or immigrants – and rest of the world , would have its direct impact on India . As many Indians are living in the U. S. Any perceived discrimination between Indians on religious lines would have impact back home in the country . It might not happen, but the fear is there nonetheless.
India should guard against being seen as an arm of America in rising up to emerging super power China that has already blocked its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group ( NSG) . But the closeness of Delhi-Washington is too well known to the world, as is the China- Pakistan all weather friendship , the signature tunes of which is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Beijing’s refusal to allow the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Azhar Masood as terrorist .
Pakistan has been exploiting Kashmir issue and talking about the persecution of minorities in India at the world fora. The stand of the Trump administration in regard to Pakistan because of its geostrategic location and its history of partnering with the US in fighting Soviets and Taliban for almost three decades would not be compromised just because of friendship with India. The Americans watch their interests first. India should know that.
