Posted on 12/06/2005 8:01:55 AM PST by CarrotAndStick
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 4: In a bureaucratic reorganisation that reflects new geopolitical thinking here, the Bush Administration is all set to combine its engagement with Central Asia and the Subcontinent.
Soon, the State Department and the National Security Council in the White House will pursue future diplomatic activity relating to the two regions together. Besides seeking to revive historic links between the regions, Washington hopes to embed Afghanistan in an enduring regional framework and create the basis for Indo-Pak economic cooperation, say analysts.
India, which has nursed ambitions of a larger role in Central Asia, is expected to be the linchpin of this new grouping—if the Bush Administration takes its new ideas towards their logical conclusion.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the US bureaucracy continued to deal with Central Asian Republics (CARs) as part of its Russian bureau. The CARs were also integrated into its pan-European structures.
After the Cold War, political pressure from the US Congress led to the creation of a separate bureau of South Asian Affairs. And now, as it focuses on Afghanistan’s stability and warily eyes China’s growing influence in Central Asia, the Bush Administration has begun to see the advantages of creating a new regional approach that brings South and Central Asia together.
A few years ago, China had set up the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) along with Russia and the five Central Asian Republics—Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The SCO has emerged as Beijing’s principal tool in the region as it pushed its economic development westwards from the coastline and began to tap the energy resources of Central Asia.
Besides, China and Russia have also been pressing for a withdrawal of US military presence from Central Asia that was established after 9/11.
The Bush Administration, in turn, has unveiled a strategic partnership with Kabul. It has also strongly supported the Indian initiative to draw Afghanistan into the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC)—it was admitted as eighth member last month.
India would hope that this bureaucratic regorganisation is followed by greater emphasis in Washington on promoting trade and energy linkages between the Subcontinent and Central Asia. Critical to this would be Pakistan’s willingness to offer India transit facilities to move goods to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Since the fall of the Taliban, India has rapidly expanded its diplomatic and economic profile in Afghanistan. Besides reviving its old consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar, India set up new missions in western and northern Afghanistan.
Now, the key to greater regional cooperation between South and Central Asia, analysts say, would depend on getting Pakistan to see the economic and political benefits of emerging as a ‘‘bridge state’’. Triangular cooperation between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan could help reorient the CARs in the southward direction and recast the geopolitics of the Eurasian landmass.
These are threads that matter. Not stories about student-teacher sex scandals.
Which is also why only half as many posters end up reading this...
Sounds like we have several plans on the table and hopefully enough time left for the Administration to move these ideas forward.
You can sure see all the intellectual engagement that's going on here.... So little, that I am not afraid to disparage FR right now, as it will mostly go unnoticed.
Many folks are here on the right (the correct) side of politics, but for all the wrong reasons. This thread is my main evidence. Where is everyone? They're all off posting about King Kong, blindly degrading muslims (like our new Iraqi allies, for example), and what else... making fun of Helen Thomas' looks.
The US and India need to partner to split Asia right up the middle, either figuratively (as in a scissors strategy to break of the SCO) or physically (as in an invasion).
China and Russia might have a thing or two to say about that.
Precisely my point. Need to break up the SCO. Before its too late.
Russia has entered a demographic death spiral. China is hungry for energy resources and the enormous north asian landmass is pretty beckoning to Beijing, I must say.
To me it seems, the EU, Russia, Turkey and China will form a counter-US power bloc. The US, Japan, the UK(?), Australia, Singapore, S KOrea(?) and India will form the other pole. Interesting times lie ahead....
I really enjoy reading post-Cold War speculations. The planet really has not grasped how significant the thaw is. We're talking about a new world order where real partnerships can occur that mutually benefit each. I get a strong sense that the same folks that didn't understand why the Cold War had to be won are the ones so ready to retreat in the face of success. The opportunities on the horizon should be making the markets scream with optimism... but they still haven't caught on yet. My bet is that it’s because there hasn't been enough post-Cold War speculating. Great Post!
and the Rest of the SCO. It seems like there are 3 blocks forming up... Eastern Europe, Southern Asia, Britian and her former Colonies, and the United States, against the rest of the "Former" USSR, PR China, Vietnam, Iran, Myrammar, Cuba, Venezuela, and the other commie/arabfascist cronies out there. Western Europe is on the fence.
QUOTE: "Triangular cooperation between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan could help reorient the CARs in the southward direction and recast the geopolitics of the Eurasian landmass."
Doubtless it is not a simple as this glib sentence would imply, but the suggestion that a stable trading partnership and geopolitical alliance is not only a possibility, but a likelihood is very exciting. Stability? Progress? Wealth building?
Makes me dream of the day when others, like Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, begin to... Nevermind. I think I won't jinx it. It's far too soon, anyway.
Right?
Unfortunately our road to Afghanistan goes through Iran. Pakistan would not allow us any transit. Thats the irony of the situation. We couldn't get the Pakis to open up a transit route for us. Now the only way is have the Americans pressure the Pakis to open up.
Although snatching Afghanistan right out of Pakistan's kitty and installing the India backed Northern Alliance government has been one of the very few success stories for India ever since Bangladesh war.
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