Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, November 2003, pages 42-43

The Subcontinent

 

Sharon Visits Delhi to Bolster Growing India-Israel Axis

 

By M.M. Ali

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's official visit to India the second week of September marked a significant development in relations between the two countries, and is likely to have a strong impact on the politics of the subcontinent and Asia alike. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, but ties were kept low key—despite the fact that Delhi, especially under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had entered into several military deals with Tel Aviv.

Political pundits in the major capitals of the world will continue to debate whether Israel or Delhi has gained more by Sharon's visit. A quick analysis indicates that, at least for the time being, the tiny but militarily powerful Jewish state may be the bigger winner.

For its part, Washington—by waiving export restrictions it had placed on some of its most sophisticated military hardware—undoubtedly has helped strengthen Indo-Israeli ties. In the past, India's close ties with the former U.S.S.R., the absorption of Indian labor in the Arab markets, and Delhi's left wing leanings contributed to anti-Americanism in policymaking circles and distanced the country from Israel—at least in the public sphere. The collapse of the Soviet Union not only radically altered the world order, but has had a serious impact on India as well. In the past decade, New Delhi has made a 180 degree turn. Its altered foreign policy has led it closer to Israel. Israel, of course, has no qualms about lending a military hand to Delhi and in supporting its policy on Kashmir—both neighboring Pakistan and Kashmir being home to Muslim populations. Both India and Israel have jumped on Washington's anti-terrorism bandwagon—this despite their own human rights violations and unleashing of terrorism against the defenseless Kashmiris and Palestinians respectively. The two new allies are happy to capitalize on U.S. fears in these troubled times.

The nature of the Israeli armaments and technological capability that India is to receive continues to be aimed at gaining an edge over Pakistan. Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Yosef Lapid had no hesitation in acknowledging: "Now that the Indian government has come out of the closet about our defense relations, I can tell you that we have several projects going. Among the crucial ones is the Phantom radar deal, cleared by the United States. The U.S. and Russia have also cleared sale of Ilyushin-76 planes to India."

Lapid expressed regret that Washington had not yet cleared the sale of Arrow-II anti-missile system to India, but added: "Israel can help India by supplying electronic means, fences and gadgetry to stave off terrorism across all its borders, including in Kashmir."

Indian Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani disclosed that the Indian government is likely to receive surveillance electronic gear from Israel, and that Tel Aviv will train 3,000 Indian soldiers in handling said equipment. The Indian navy also has requested that Israel's Barak anti-missile systems be installed on Indian naval destroyers.

No wonder Pakistani Foreign Minister Qasuri cautioned the world powers that introduction of Israeli electronic armament in the subcontinent via India will only usher in a military buildup in Pakistan as well. "This is a very unfortunate development," he said.

 

Three's a Crowd?

Interestingly, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca showed up in Delhi while Israeli Prime Minister Sharon was still in town. Although she denied that her visit had anything to do with Washington's request for Indian troops for Iraq, reports persisted that it was so. India has always cashed in on such situations, and already has presented a list of demands prior to conceding to any American request. These include:

¥ A permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council;

¥ Publicly silencing Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute;

¥ Allowing Israel to supply India the anti-missile Arrow System;

¥Clearing the sale of F-16 jets to India.

 

India Abandoning Rule of Law

A frightening story in the Aug. 24 Washington Post read:

"Police Officer: Do you know who I am?

"Suspect: Yes

"Officer: Do you know what I will do if you don't tell the truth?

"Suspect, trembling: You will shoot me in an encounter outside.

"Yes, I will not wait. I am the court. I am the judge and I am the lawyer too."

In his Bombay-datelined story, the Post's Rama Laxmi reported: "And so it goes, as Bombay's dreaded Ôencounter cop' Pradeep Sharma, flamboyantly goes about his day fighting the underworld's hold over the city."

Explained Laxmi: "An Ôencounter' is a popular Indian term used to describe an operation in which the police officers chase fleeing suspects and shoot them down, claiming they acted in self-defense."

Equally shocking was a four-column picture accompanying the story of three Indian cops displaying fire arms. The caption read: "Sub-inspector Daya Nayak, 33 (center), has gunned down 83 suspected gangsters."

Two days later came reports of two car bomb blasts in Bombay that killed several people. Before any investigations were made, Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani saw the hand of a Muslim Indian student organization in the blasts. Three weeks later, according to a Washington Post news story, "Police shot and killed a man believed to have masterminded car bombings in Bombay…Police Commissioner Ranjit Sharma said the suspect, identified as Naseer, and another man were killed in a gunfight with police officers in central Bombay."

Such stories are not infrequent in India these days. Minorities, Muslims and Christians are under attack from Hindu extremists. It will be recalled that on March 1, 2002, 14 people were burned alive in front of the Vadoodra bakery in Ahmedabad during the Gujarat riots which killed over 2,000 people. All eyewitnesses to the incident turned hostile in court, and all the accused were set free. However, with the assistance of a human rights organization, one witness, Zahira Shaikh, whose parents died that day, has come forward again, and the Apex court is now hearing the case. According to Indian press reports of Sept. 11, a "mob of 500" attacked some villagers who were building a church in a village in Orissa, "beat them up and forced them to bow to Hindu deities."

As next year's Indian elections grow nearer, BJP stalwarts are mobilizing their rank and file by reigniting the Ayodhya temple/mosque dispute that erupted in riots following the 1992 demolition of the historic Babri Masjid, killing hundreds of Muslims across the country. Although excavation of the site found no evidence of a Hindu temple underneath, a doctored report of the Archaelogical Survey of India did dig up some animal bones. Noted the Indian daily Hindu on Aug 30: "The Survey has twisted its own evidence to reach conclusions to support the fictions of the [BJP cohorts] Sangh Pariwar."

Nationwide preparations are underway to descend once again on Ayodhya and attempt to construct a temple where the Muslim mosque recently stood. In addition, other fires are being fanned to keep the communal frenzy at a fever pitch. Following the lead of Chennai, other states are being urged to ban cow slaughter. The beef business is a major source of income for Muslims, as well as for Christians and low caste Hindus. Fierce riots have taken place in various parts of India when minorities were attacked for eating beef.

Such is the state of "secular" India today. The world apparently is keeping its eyes and ears closed to domestic minority strife in a country where millions of lives are at stake.

 

No Letup in Afghanistan

Reports continue about skirmishes in Afghanistan between Taliban remnants and allied peacekeeping troops. Indeed, no part of the country appears to be under full control, with reports of violence just outside Kabul as well as in the southern region bordering Pakistan. Old hands like Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Abdul Rasool Sayyaf,who once fought the Taliban, have resurfaced—although it is doubtful they command much support today, even among the Pushtuns. Nevertheless, real peace continues to evade Afghanistan.

Although Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf repeatedly has pledged his full support in fighting terrorism everywhere, his country has its hands full dealing with domestic extremist elements and cannot afford to indulge in any external mischief. Its northern borders touching Afghanistan have never been a source of comfort for Pakistan. By joining Washington in the global fight against terrorism, Musharraf has tried to protect Pakistan's internal as well as the external security. There are other countries in the region that take pleasure in fomenting unease for others. Afghan President Hamid Karzai would do well to keep his eyes open wide.

Prof. M.M. Ali is a specialist on South Asia and a consultant with the United Nations Development Program based in the Washington, DC area.

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