US acknowledges failure of non-proliferation policy

WASHINGTON, July 23: In a subtle policy reversal, the United States has tacitly admitted that its non-proliferation agenda vis-a-vis Islama...

WASHINGTON, July 23: In a subtle policy reversal, the United States has tacitly admitted that its non-proliferation agenda vis-a-vis Islamabad has not worked satisfactorily and going back to offering carrots instead of wielding a stick may be a better option in containing Pakistan’s nuclearisation.

In itself, the reversal is not a new development because Washington has previously tried to buy out Pakistan’s nuclear program, most notably in the early and mid-1980s when it tried to supplant it by offered vast quantities of conventional arms.

But in the latest instance, Washington has also expressed fears that US inability to interact militarily with Pakistan because of various embargoes will drive Islamabad into the arms of Iran, Iraq and China. The US admission of its limited success in non-proliferation is contained in a July 16 letter written by Defence Secretary William Cohen to Senator Tom Harkin while supporting the latter’s amendment — since passed by the Senate — to resume limited economic and military aid to Pakistan.

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“Opponents of your legislation will claim that Pakistan’s performance with regard to proliferation should not be `rewarded’ by making it eligible for these assistance programs. We would respond that our denying any of these programs will not cause the Pakistanis to forego strategic programs which they believe are essential for their national security,” Secretary Cohen wrote.

The acknowledgement has raised eyebrows among Indian officials and analysts because it is tantamount to an admission of failure. “By the same token, the US has no business to be telling us not to go ahead with Agni or deploying Prithvi. They are essential for our national security,” one official said.

US analysts cautioned against reading too much into Secretary Cohen’s letter, contesting the interpretation that it was an admission of failure.

The reference was to arguments that easing economic and military sanctions against Islamabad was in the interests of US businesses which have been reluctant to invest in Pakistan because of lack of guarantees from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US concern which provides insurance cover.

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Meanwhile, Indian officials are furious that the Clinton administration kept them in the dark while surreptitiously working the Senate to pass the Harkin Amendment. The Embassy is said to have been taken by surprise by the speed which things moved. The idea obviously was to give the Indians little time to do their lobbying to try and stall or stop the amendment.