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INDIA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OBAMA BUT DOUBTS REMAIN

The Times of India, January 21, 2009

NEW DELHI: The first African-American president of the United States, Barack Obama, is being widely hailed as a harbinger of change and, perhaps, not without reason.

Even before he was sworn in as the 44th US president around 11.30am (local time) on Tuesday, Obama had come to signify hope and change for the better for millions cutting across country, race and religious divides.

India is no exception as Obama's elevation to power has been largely met with optimism. The only sore note, if one can call it that, has been the new president's inclination to draw a link between the situation on Pak-Afghan border and the J&K dispute between India and Pakistan which many in the West believe can lead to a flare-up on Pakistan's eastern border.

However, the good news for India is that Obama has already declared that the war on terror during his regime is going to focus on Afghanistan-Pakistan and not Iraq. This clearly authenticates India's stand that it is important to sort out these two countries to root out terrorism.

Obama's predecessor had been pilloried for the US follies in launching an all out war on Iraq and Obama's decision to withdraw troops from that country has been greeted well by the world community. In that sense, Obama has already started to make a difference.

India, of course, would want to ward off any attempt by the Obama administration to force a resolution of the J&K dispute on the pretext of ensuring more cooperation from Pakistan in the war against terror. However, Obama clearly understands that India looks upon J&K as a bilateral dispute, with the world community having little or no role in it, and is unlikely to disturb the balance.

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