Obama unlikely to mediate on Kashmir: Congressional report Lalit K Jha

Washington, Mar 10 (PTI) The Obama Administration is
unlikely to mediate on the Kashmir issue and the US policy of
non-interference will continue despite calls for greater
American involvement, according to a latest Congressional
report.

The Indo-US ties appear all set to deepen under Obama's
presidency notwithstanding apprehensions in some quarters
about "potential friction" on issues like Kashmir and nuclear
non-proliferation, said the 83-page report on the 'India-US
Relations' by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

"Upon the seating of a new US President in 2009, most
experts expected general policy continuity with regard to
US-India relations," it said. The CRS, a research wing of the
US Congress, periodically prepares such reports for the
internal use of US lawmakers.

Referring to some apprehensions that the Obama
Administration may mediate between India and Pakistan on the
Kashmir issue, the report said this is unlikely to happen as
the US would continue with its policy of non-interference.

"Secretary of State Clinton recognises the dangers of
rising tensions in Kashmir while also deferring calls for
greater US involvement in the situation, saying the US role
will continue to be as it was under the previous
Administration: settlement facilitation, but no mediation," it
said.

According to the report, the Mumbai attacks elicited more
vocal calls for deepening US-India counter-terrorism
cooperation that could benefit both countries.

Such cooperation has been hampered by sometimes divergent
geo-political perceptions and by US reluctance to "embarrass"
its Pakistani allies by conveying alleged evidence of official
Pakistani links to terrorists, especially those indulged in
militancy in Kashmir.

"Some look to history in anticipating potential friction
on issues such as non-proliferation (where India may be
pressed to join initiatives like the CTBT and the Fissile
Material Cutoff Treaty); human rights and Kashmir (where the
new Administration could become more interventionist); and
bilateral economic relations (where Obama may pursue so-called
protectionist policies)," the report pointed out.

Yet, it pointed out, "Obama's statement that 'Our rapidly
growing and deepening friendship with India offers benefits to
all the world's citizens,' suggests that the bilateral
strategic partnership likely will continue and even deepen."

"While many Indian analysts opine that Republican US
Presidents typically have been more beneficial to Indian
interests than have Democratic ones, most appear to conclude
that undue worry is unnecessary, and that the selection of a
Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton) perceived as friendly to
India has done much to ameliorate such concerns," the report
said. PTI LKJ
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