Point, Counter-Point offers four perspectives on a current topic. This round, South Asian Voices bloggers debate the future of U.S. involvement in the region – particularly during crises. In light of a changing geopolitical landscape, including the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, will the United States’ involvement in India-Pakistan relations continue – or even increase – or is it more likely the U.S. will have a limited role?
Read below for point and counter-point from both Indian and Pakistani bloggers:
POINT
In “The Future Role for Washington,” Tridivesh Singh Maini argues that continued U.S. involvement in the region is likely moving forward in part because: “over the past decade the dynamics of India-U.S. relations have witnessed some significant changes with increased strategic and economic cooperation.”
In “Growing U.S. Role in Indo-Pak Relations,” Muhammad Jawad Hashmi contends that “political and strategic stability in South Asia – and particularly in Pakistan – may be in the best interest of the U.S. during the exit from Afghanistan,” and so argues U.S. role is likely to increase over time.
COUNTER-POINT
In “Between the Boots and the BJP, Waning US Influence in South Asia?,” Amina Afzal sees U.S. involvement in the region diminishing, and argues that the U.S. needs “to rethink its approach toward a nuclear South Asia. Rather than offering its mediation or good office at the time of crises, the United States needs to realize the importance of addressing the issues which result in these crises.”
In “India-Pakistan Relations on a One to One Basis,” Reshmi Kazi contends that U.S. involvement in previous crises has been relatively limited, and that rather than maintaining or increasing its level of involvement in the region, Washington will take “a neutral position” in future.