OBAMA FIREFIGHTING NUCLEAR DANGER OUT OF KASHMIR

Guwahati 6Nov.2008
_______________
Indian foreign policy hawks would naturally study Barack Obama's real concern over Kashmir dispute with skepticism,yet Indian statesmen would love to transcend bilateral trappings in order to build up and script permanent peace in South Asia. A win-win situation would be hated by warmongers in both the neighbours,who would insist on Sisyphos syndrome as Indian foreign policy cornerstone.
A breakthrough is always possible ,as it happened in middle -east or northern Ireland, due to pro-active US intervention.Obama's concern goes deeper since his statement in summer 2007.The parameters make no considerable shift since then.
First, a possible nuclear danger could suddenly emerge out of Kashmir and threaten world peace.He ,therefore, insisted that India and Pakistan should be party to CTBT; however, China would support extension of NSG exceptionalism to Pakistan as well.Arms control carries tags.
Second,by hyphenating Pakistan with Afghanistan on Taliban issue or similar issues by extension, India could not be unbracketed in common cause against Islamic fundamentalismor, the ugly side of political Islam.Kashmir is the nodal point for India,Pakistan and the USA as peace broker;naturally bilatrealism would yield ground to multilateralism.Hurriyat may by extension may demand a political space in a possible multilateral enagagement in future.Their statements reveal their political mind.
Third, the centre of gravity of US foreign policy is shifting from Iraq and this may cover horizontal grounds including South Asia. Fourth, Obama's intention to use the services of ex Prez.Bill Clinton as his special Kashmir rapporteur may open a new leaf in South Asia or Asia in a wider context.
His articulation of " political roots' of nuclear danger or, possible dangers is the basis of his foreign policy initiative.Obama is a mascot of peace in South Asia. Peace might break out when the right moment comes. Peace does not break out in unprepared ground.India and Pakistan leaders may prepare the ground.