Rail and Obama

I read with interest the reports in news about the new economic stimulus package which states that there is large sum allocated to development of high speed rail corridors in US. This is a positive and encouraging development. In US if you have to go from one city to other air travel is the only real public transport which is obviously very expensive for all. Or you have to drive yourself. So there was always the need for encouragement of developing public transport which was apparently blocked till date by oil lobbyist for obvious reasons. But if the proposed spending on rail develops into better way to travel between two cities it will be very nice way to travel safely, cheaply and indeed a green. So all the greetings to new US president Obama for encouraging this funding. Hope this comes down even to Houston and we may not be blocking roads next time htere is threat of hurricane as with railways it will be very easy to evacuate lot many people within a short span, at least there will be a very good additional way to do that.

Holbrooke's Kashmir mandate?

So, does he have a mandate regarding Kashmir? Given his area of action Afghanistan and Pakistan, it will have to come into picture whether India want it or not, whether Obama wants it or no. Pakistan's existence has always been linked to Kashmir so given any opportunity it will be a topic of deliberation. And exactly what he should do so as it to this issue so as this may help all the people. Mostly to people of Kashmir or Jammu and Kashmir to be precise.

• What will benefit most to Kashmir people is stability and trade, so he should advice Pakistani people that there should be every attempt by them for it.
• There should be de-linking by Pakistan to every violence to Kashmir issue.
• He should make every possible attempt to have a secular and stable Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Most importantly for the long term benefit of world and USA, he should not see at all the short term interest of US and should not act like a super cop. It should try to respect the correct mandate of local population. In case of Jammu and Kashmir, it may mean a greater autonomy to whole Kashmir including POK and free trade in south Asia.
  

India's Afghan Policy

I believe that India should try to achieve following things in its policy

• First and formost establishment of secular government, India should help in whatever way to stabilize this nation's secular government. Give money, help in infrastructure and help in intelligence. Most of it is probably being done and people should commend Govt of India for it.
• India should try to get rid of opium trade for two reasons, it funds rebels in that country and part of that opium finds its way into India.
• In present situation its wise to avoid direct military assistance, but we should keep that option open as it will have some impact on Pakistan as in that scenario we will have India's army on both side of Pakistan.
• Covertly try to ignite nationalistic feeling in Pashtuns, for their own land which will not be part of Pakistan but probably an autonomous region within Afghanistan and controversy regarding Durand line should be exploited as its unacceptable to Afghan people.
• As India has developed with road infrastructure project, develop good relations iwht Iran ans establish very well route to Afghanistan without crossing pakistan, through this India can also offer help to US so as to decrease need for Pakistan a bit for logistics.
  

SriLankan Civil War

With the recent developments, it seems that LTTE will be reduced to a terrorist organization and wont have military power. Hope no one will ever support them. Hope UK wont support them anyway, which it does for many terrorist organization and people continuously. The only way there will be lasting peace is to give minorities equal rights which they were deprived of. As for people within LTTE only the top bosses should be punished, otherwise there should be general amnesty by SriLankan govt. If its boss Prabhakaran is captured alive, India should tactfully avoid getting his custody and trying him for Rajiv Gandhi's killing as its a known fact that Tamilians in India may still support him and he will remain alive for long time. His atrocities against SriLankan civilians Sinhalese and Tamilians seem to be reason enough that he should be hanged by SriLankan government.

US Iran and India

Because of short sightedness of US foreign policy towards Iran in 40-70, these two countries dont have any contact with each other. To begin with US helped undemocratic forces there which ultimately resulted in revolution as a reaction. That revolution brought religious extremist to power. If US had respected will of Iranian people and worked with it, that would have been beneficial for whole world. For now it can still start talking to it and at least have diplomatic relations to begin with. India can be a very good mediator as it has very good relations with both the countries. If it plays the facilitator's role it would be one of the steps towards getting into world politics as a major active player rather than a silent observer as it is now. Both US and Iran can tell world that they are or were significant players who have influenced the world permenantly. Nice relations between these two countries will be a very big boost for regional and world peace.

Duplicacy of UK and timidity of India

It seems UK wants terror suspects in Mumbai attack to be tried out in Pakistan. How sweet of UK to "advice" India about what to do and How obliging is India's Government by immediately stating that Pakistan should try those suspected in Terror attack. (Read here)
1. UK itself always like to try criminals in its own land when offense is committed on its land. So why not this for India
2. Does Indian government still thinks that it is part of Queen's regime to immediately oblige to "advice" of her minister.
This incidence just shows how incapable India is to bring to justice those people who have violated its security. A strong nation needs to act strongly and seeking help from US UK UN and U......... wont help, India needs to have strong policy and leverage so that we would not wait for indefinite period for justice to be done.
Officially India shuld have objected to statement from Mr Miliband, in reality we know its not possible to get criminal from Pakistan but it should not be acknowledgged officially.

Nuclear world

There is big discussion about the new nuclear deal between INDIA and US. People are being hypocrite while addressing this. There are certain facts that everyone should know and understand.

• All the important treaties which are accepted world over recognize five nations as having nuclear weapon only. No one else should have it !? This is illogical and unfair! Either all should have it or lets make this world weapon free! No one should have it.
• Other thing is about INDIA's record in the world order, it is one of the most responsible state. It has two strong neighbors acting together against interest of INDIA. Both have very dubious record when it comes to nuclear weapon proliferation and both China and Pakistan, later in particular is responsible for giving access of technology and material to terrorists! World and US in particular have always ignored this and supported this state. Against this background India's case is legitimate and strong for possessing such arsenals.
• Also India will be one of the happening story in world in coming future which will serve world all over. And to do so it needs some support at correct time in building infrastructure and the nuclear deal between two great democracies is the step in right direction.
• Also think of future and its obvious that world should use nuclear fuel more and more for energy generation as mother earth's capacity to provide fossil fuel is limited. With the development India has made in this field will only help the world in general to get an access to green energy.
• More green energy means less significance of oil producing countries whose track record in the world security is questionable as also their status as democracies.

Considering all this its a great step ahead to welcome strong India as a major player in the world affairs.

India will definitely fulfill its responsibilities as one of the big powers!!!