India jittery over Obama’s Kashmir proposal

SHEIKH AHMED

New Delhi, Nov 6: India appears jittery and uncomfortable over US President-elect Barrack Hussain Obama’s proposal to appoint former President Bill Clinton as special envoy on Kashmir to help resolve this contentious issue peacefully.“India is against third party intervention on Kashmir and had conveyed on umpteen occasions to the international community that it is a bilateral matter between the two neighbours. So America’s special envoy on Kashmir is not welcome,” a diplomat said.The Indian government feels that the issue will be again highlighted by the appointment of the envoy. India has always rejected proposal of the Organization of Islamic Conference to appoint special envoy on Kashmir, stating that the Muslim organisation has no locus standi to get involved in this issue. Similar remarks were made when South African leader Nelson Mandela made reference to Kashmiri at the Non-Aligned summit at Durban in 1999.Recently UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said he was ready to mediate between India and Pakistan on this issue provided both parties agree to it. “I am willing to do that. As you know good offices of the Secretary General are available when and whenever there is some agreed request from both parties.” However, the Indian government is opposed to UN or any third country role.Obama during his luncheon meeting with Clinton in New York recently proposed to him to take up the responsibility of the special envoy so that the issue is solved without any delay. The President-elect said, “We should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between India and Pakistan and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis so that Pakistan can stay focused not on India, but on the situation with those militants (on Pak-Afghan border).”He further stated, “I will encourage India and Pakistan to work towards resolving their differences. If Pakistan can look towards the East with confidence, it will be less likely to believe its interests are best advanced through cooperation with the Taliban.”When India and Pakistan were at the verge of war in 1999 on the Kargil conflict, Clinton along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair played important role to defuse the crisis. Even at that time, Clinton as well as the European Union had expressed willingness to appoint an envoy for South Asia to enable India and Pakistan to stabilize their relations.Former President Jimmy Carter’s name figured prominently for this job. But then nothing materialised as the Indian government conveyed its opposition to such an idea.It is interesting to watch what will be the policy of Obama when he takes over as the President on January 20, 2009. His deputy, Jeo Biden is considered close to India and he is likely to play an important role in the foreign policy of the Obama administration.The diplomats in New Delhi feel that linking Kashmir with Afghanistan was not justified and it would help Pakistan to internationalise the issue.