19 September 2008
McCain, Obama Would Fight Terrorism, Enhance Trade in South Asia
Both U.S. presidential candidates pledge to build relationships in region
Washington — Mindful that the economy and security are among voters’ top concerns in the November 4 American elections, the two U.S presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are pledging to build economic and security relationships in South Asia.
“India and America will be close and vital partners,” McCain writes in an August Indian Express editorial that extolled the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. “India has been a responsible, law-abiding power and it should be further integrated into the global effort to control proliferation of dangerous technologies.”
Obama has been less enthusiastic about the pact, but voted for it in 2006. He says he wants stronger nuclear nonproliferation mechanisms and U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
The civil nuclear agreement would allow the United States and India to cooperate in civil nuclear research and development; commercial trade in nuclear reactors, technology and fuel. (See “President Bush Sends U.S.-India Nuclear Accord to Congress.”)
“I think that everybody wants the deal,” senior fellow at Brookings Institution and South Asia specialist Stephen P. Cohen told America.gov. “Even people who opposed it would rather see the deal concluded sooner than later. They’d rather have this done in the Bush administration, not have to face it in theirs.”
The Nuclear Suppliers Group cleared India for nuclear commerce September 9, ending three decades of isolation after India’s refusal to sign nuclear nonproliferation treaties and its 1974 nuclear test. The suppliers group decision paves the way for congressional approval of the agreement.
“The deal is important, but by itself it doesn’t transform the relationship. It’s a major step in that direction.” Cohen adds, “The future of the relationship will depend largely on internal Indian development and reform of the relationship with Pakistan.”
Hindustan Times foreign editor Pramit Pal Chaudhuri told America.gov India’s “overriding” concern is “what the U.S. policy on Afghanistan-Pakistan is going to be.” Other important issues are outsourcing of U.S. jobs, immigration and energy policies, he said.
TERRORISM A MUTUAL CONCERN
Agreement on the need to fight terrorism unites the United States and most South Asian countries. Obama and McCain differ on how and where best to handle terrorism in the region. Obama wants to withdraw from Iraq and focus on defeating al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
Sumit Ganguly, Tagore professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, said the Pakistani press fueled an overreaction to Obama’s statement about going after terrorists in Pakistan, while McCain’s “obsession with Iraq and his failure to talk more explicitly about what might be done to stem the tide in Afghanistan where NATO is really straining right now” opens him to criticism from South Asia.
“[McCain] seems to be much more preoccupied with debating the question of withdrawal or staying and victory in Iraq rather than focusing on the critical issues involving the stability of Pakistan,” Ganguly told America.gov.
Cohen said the terrorism debate is just getting started in Pakistan, where terrorist attacks are on the rise. At the same time, Pakistanis have made an extraordinary political transition.
“McCain and especially Obama are a bit impatient regarding provocations that have come out of Pakistan,” Cohen said.
Both McCain and Obama favor greater security cooperation with India.
“We are both victims of terrorist attacks on our soil, and our counter-terrorism partnership is based on a shared interest in defeating the forces of extremism,” Obama told India’s Outlook Magazine in July.
Obama’s policy toward Pakistan would “emphasize support for democracy and social and economic development, not only for counterterrorism.” Obama wants to help resolve differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan and encourage India-Pakistan dialogue on Kashmir.
ECONOMIC PRIORITIES
Both Obama and McCain advocate strong trade links with South Asian countries, particularly India, the region’s economic powerhouse. Their positions speak to an Indian-American constituency that is politically active and includes many individuals who retain strong personal and business ties to India.
“We live in a more competitive world, and that is a fact that cannot be reversed … but we must find a way to make globalization and trade work for American workers,” Obama told Outlook.
McCain said American workers’ concerns should be addressed “by helping them to adapt and compete, not retreat into isolationism and protectionism.” He also opposes farm subsidies to large agribusiness.
Obama anticipates jobs in renewable energy industries and wants major investment there; offsetting climate change is a significant part of his platform. McCain favors alternative energy development, but advocates drilling for oil in American territory.
CLIMATE CHANGE
In addition to economic and security issues, more U.S. engagement with India, Pakistan and China on climate change could benefit all, Cohen said. “If we made that a higher priority … we’d have agreements on a whole range of issues which otherwise will lead to conflict between all these countries, and that includes Nepal and Bangladesh.”
A proposal posted on Obama’s Web site calls for creation of a “Global Energy Forum — based on the G8+5, which includes all G8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.” This forum would include the nations, both developed and developing, that consume the most energy and would focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.
McCain also “believes that there must be a global solution to global climate change. McCain says, as president, he would provide immediate incentives for India and China to participate in programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while negotiating individual agreements on low-carbon energy production and clean-technology partnerships with each nation.
