President Obama's announcement that he will visit Pakistan next year has further raised enthusiasm amongst Indians for Obama's visit to India next month.
The Unites States has always pursued a neutral foreign policy towards Pakistan and India. Washington tried to balance trade deals and diplomatic visits to one country, bearing in mind its ties with the other. The strong military relations between Islamabad and Washington in recent times strained US-India ties.
But as India started to progress economically, the United States started seeking ways to repair strained relations with India. A landmark civil nuclear deal was signed with India, something that has never been offered to Pakistan.
But during Obama's time in office, Islamabad was able to use its significance in the Afghan War to prevent Washington from strengthening relations with New Delhi. Many in India believe that the announcement of Obama's desire to visit Pakistan may send relations between Washington and New Delhi backward.
“This is going to do some damage to the relationship” between America and India, said Sumit Ganguly, an analyst based in Delhi. “Now you will hear the expression in New Delhi ‘re-hyphenation.’ ”
The
announcement of the visit to Pakistan comes after the US president held
meetings with a Pakistani delegation earlier this week. Pakistani
foreign minister, army chief and other high-ranking officials are in
Washington for the ongoing strategic US-Pakistan dialogue focusing
largely on the fight against Islamist militants in the Af-Pak region.
