Will United States of America (USA) ever be able to shed its big brotherly attitude towards other nations? Perhaps not, as the said country is much more interested in interfering in the domestic issues of other countries, sometimes even after disregarding its own declared stand. The most recent glaring example of this attitude of USA came to light when Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had to skip his scheduled meeting with American law makers and returned to India. The foreign minister was upset over the fact that a known India-basher was included in American delegates. Mr. Jaishankar was right in skipping the meeting as the agenda of the talk was to find further ways to improve Indo-US ties, but not to discuss internal issues such as Kashmir and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). With the India-baiter present in the American delegation it was certain that those issues were to be raised. So, what Mr. Jaishankar did, should more often be done by other nations that have been subjected to US bullying.
As a matter of fact, US foreign policy is definitely double edged. The country is known not to keep its promises while supporting other countries. Starting from Vietnam to the more recent Venezuela crisis, US interference has always made matters more complicated. This time too, US in presence of India attacked countries like China and Pakistan for neglecting the rights of minorities. But even after supporting India’s endeavour of making Kashmir terror free, US is covertly indulging those who are critical of New Delhi’s recent measures in that part of the country. Mr. Jaishankar has correctly exposed this double standard of US administration. Naturally, US is not happy over the entire issue. So in the near future, the country may take some steps to put India in difficulty as it has done always. Hopefully, India will not succumb to such undue pressure and keep its identity distinct from other nations.
Since Independence, India was never in the good books of America as India was one of the initiators of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). After Second World War, America always wanted to take the newly Independent nations in to its strides. India was the main barrier to this US plan. So, US always looked to India as a nation against its principle, a threat to its hegemony in the world. So much so, that it always stood by the side of Pakistan to teach India a lesson. When India was struggling to cope with millions of refugees coming from the then East Pakistan, even in those days US supported Pakistan. US only realised India’s importance when it started facing terrorism and saw an opening to vast Indian market with the announcement of New Economic Policy.
From then onwards, India and US have become much closer than they have been for decades. The bond became much stronger when the US, toeing India’s line, condemned terrorism and put Pakistan on the dock. But that doesn’t give US a license to interfere in India’s domestic matters. US should realise that if Kashmir is troubled today, it is because of Pakistan’s design to snatch an integral part of India. So those who are critical of India’s policy towards Kashmir are actually helping Pakistan and terrorism. Instead of supporting such elements, US should prevent them from criticising India and work together towards ending terrorism for good.
