Starting all over

In the factious political atmosphere of India, most parties will shy away from affirming any paradigmatic consequences of the visit of US President.

In the factious political atmosphere of India, most parties will shy away from affirming any paradigmatic consequences of the visit of US President George W. Bush. But like it or not, the consequences of the US and India coming closer, whether it is in the area of energy, military affairs or commerce, do have paradigm-shifting consequences. In that sense, the visit was about redrawing the global order and of the multi-faceted partnership that the US seeks with India to boost its declining standing in Asia. But this by no means implies some new Indo-US alliance, but close, and even friendly, coordination in a range of areas — energy security, non-proliferation, anti-terrorism, regional stability and so on. But most Indian leaders will probably shy away from any perception of an American embrace, a feeling perhaps not different from the one exhibited by leaders in Nepal or Bangladesh when dealing with their Indian counterpart.

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The Indo-US nuclear deal is simultaneously a lubricant for a much larger meshing of the two countries, a confidence- building measure to sooth Indian egos bruised by a half-century of difficult relations, as well as an invaluable technological input to assure a degree of autonomy for our growing energy demands. Besides being rid of a crippling embargo on its nuclear power programme, India has been implicitly recognised as a nuclear weapons State by the US, a handsome achievement by any count.

But what’s in it for the US? First, the deal is an advance for non-proliferation. Where no part of the Indian nuclear programme was under safeguards, now there will be a substantial chunk. Second, by lifting the restrictions on India, the US has opened up vast new areas for business, not just in the nuclear power area, but in all those that related to dual use high-technology.

Third, by enabling India to enhance the nuclear component of its energy basket, the US will ease pressures on global oil and gas prices and availability. Even if the deal fails in the US Congress, of which there is not much of a chance, it will have established a new and higher level of discourse on strategic issues, and successfully laid the ghost of an issue that has bedevilled our relations for the last 30 years.