The Hindu : Unreliable ally

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unreliable ally

Sir, — This refers to the editorial "An unreliable ally" (March 22). American double standards are clearly visible in its designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally. The Bush administration is shutting its eyes to the excesses Islamabad has committed, especially in the A.Q. Khan affair, to get its help in hunting down Al-Qaeda terrorists.

K.L. Batra,
Yamuna Nagar, Haryana

Sir, — At a time when India and Pakistan are trying to normalise their relations, the U.S. move is uncalled for. The decision has dangerous signals for the subcontinent, as there will be drastic changes in the military equation between the two countries in the long run. Going by the past, Pakistan should be wise enough not to fall prey to the U.S. gimmicks of `adding fuel to the fire' in the region.

T. Rajeswar Rao,
Hyderabad

Sir, — How vulnerable the countries that lent military support to the U.S. in its war against Iraq are to terror attacks can be gauged from the bomb attacks in Spain. Considering that no ally of the U.S. can feel safe, it is strange that the Government is dismayed over the U.S. granting non-NATO ally status to Pakistan, which is of no material use to the latter except creating the delusion that it will be secure.

Aravind Sridhar,
New Delhi

Sir, — There was nothing unusual about the U.S. move, because propping up Pakistan to snub India has been part and parcel of the game plan the U.S. administration has been pursuing for a long time. Through bilateral discussions and positive acts, Pakistan and India are trying hard to come closer to each other.

The announcement may have the motive of driving a wedge between the neighbours. Both the countries should be vigilant.

K.D. Viswanaathan,
Coimbatore

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