SHAFAQNA-South Asia has been remained an important strategic region for the world powers and an attempt to have strong hold on this region had been remained a long whim of world powers including US and Russia and now China as well. Pakistan and India are two important countries in South Asia that are key to maintain strategic balance in the region but The unease of Pakistan on a number of agreements reached between India and the US in wake of President Obama’s recent visit to India, can be gauged from Prime Minister’s advisor on Foreign and National Security affair Sartaj Aziz’s statement that: “Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its national security interests”. Especially grating for Pakistan, has been the understanding between India and the US on three main areas: 1) Transfer of civiliannuclear technology to India; 2) US support for India to become permanent member of UN’s Security Council, and 3), US’s support of India’s position on terrorism in the region.
On the issue of transfer of nuclear technology to India, for civilian purposes, Islamabad is apprehensive, that this transfer of nuclear fuel under nuclear cooperation agreement would unburden domestic uranium resources of India – which could then be made available to India’s ambitions nuclear arms program. President Obama, hailed this nuclear cooperation agreement, signed six years ago, as a great break through. Only now have the two countries resolved the India’s nuclear liability law and American requirement for monitoring of material provided to India under the agreement. Pakistan rightly feels that this agreement could have a detrimental impact on deterrence stability in South Asia.
American support for India’s quest to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council: is another red flag to Pakistan. Being a regional hegemon in the region already, a permanent status at the U.N Security Council, would further give impetus to India’s expansionist designs. Pakistan further argues correctly: that being a perpetual violator, India has no moral right to aspire for a permanent place on the UN. In any event, the global trend is more towards democratization of elite clubs like the Security Council, rather than adding more holy cows to it.
Now Pakistan should not solely banked upon US but also explore new ties with Russia and Iran that can help her to maintain a strategic balance in the region.
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