As our chief diplomat, will Hillary be an objective observer with a deep understanding of South Asia?
Ambrose Aban
Chief Blogger, QueerGasm
Here's the thing. The Pakistanis are worried as hell. They think Hillary Clinton will be favoring India every step of the way. It will be that way. And it is dangerous. Hill will have to play her role very well and very carefully as no one else can do that job more effectively other than herself and her hubby, President Bill Clinton and John McCain. Joe Biden, with all his 36 years of international affairs experience, can forget it. Hill once said, very clearly, during the primary process (when she strongly said that Obama was not ready to lead or to answer the phonecall at 3am), "as president I will work with India to make our strong friendship even stronger."
In her new role as the nation's top diplomat, Hill would project Obama's policies, not her own. But even foreign affairs experts who wave off suggestions that Hillary Clinton would lean toward either Asian power acknowledge that the perception of such a tilt could cause suspicions in Pakistan. South Asia experts reject the assertion of bias, but they acknowledge it exists.
Many are thinking that Hill is "very balanced" and "understands almost better than anybody how delicate the situation is between these two countries." Still, perceptions matter, especially in the region. There are concerns that she is seen as pro-India, she and her husband both. The Pakistanis definitely see them as closer and friendlier to India. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue of India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars — two of them over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir — since winning independence from Britain. You cannot expect that any nominee for secretary of state would have a special relationship going into this job, but we're very lucky that we have in Hill someone who is already well-versed on one of the more important countries and emerging economies in the world.
None of this has been meant to exclude Pakistan, but it is a zero-sum game when you are dealing with these two countries. You can't do something with one without it affecting the other. During her presidential campaign in 2008, Hill pointed to the "strong partnership" that Bill forged between India and the U.S. Now as president-elect, Obama has chosen Hill to be his chief diplomat and highlighted India and Pakistan as priorities for his administration. The situation in South Asia as a whole and the safe havens for terrorists that have been established there represent the single most important threat against the American people.
Chief Blogger, QueerGasm
Here's the thing. The Pakistanis are worried as hell. They think Hillary Clinton will be favoring India every step of the way. It will be that way. And it is dangerous. Hill will have to play her role very well and very carefully as no one else can do that job more effectively other than herself and her hubby, President Bill Clinton and John McCain. Joe Biden, with all his 36 years of international affairs experience, can forget it. Hill once said, very clearly, during the primary process (when she strongly said that Obama was not ready to lead or to answer the phonecall at 3am), "as president I will work with India to make our strong friendship even stronger."
In her new role as the nation's top diplomat, Hill would project Obama's policies, not her own. But even foreign affairs experts who wave off suggestions that Hillary Clinton would lean toward either Asian power acknowledge that the perception of such a tilt could cause suspicions in Pakistan. South Asia experts reject the assertion of bias, but they acknowledge it exists.
Many are thinking that Hill is "very balanced" and "understands almost better than anybody how delicate the situation is between these two countries." Still, perceptions matter, especially in the region. There are concerns that she is seen as pro-India, she and her husband both. The Pakistanis definitely see them as closer and friendlier to India. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue of India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars — two of them over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir — since winning independence from Britain. You cannot expect that any nominee for secretary of state would have a special relationship going into this job, but we're very lucky that we have in Hill someone who is already well-versed on one of the more important countries and emerging economies in the world.
None of this has been meant to exclude Pakistan, but it is a zero-sum game when you are dealing with these two countries. You can't do something with one without it affecting the other. During her presidential campaign in 2008, Hill pointed to the "strong partnership" that Bill forged between India and the U.S. Now as president-elect, Obama has chosen Hill to be his chief diplomat and highlighted India and Pakistan as priorities for his administration. The situation in South Asia as a whole and the safe havens for terrorists that have been established there represent the single most important threat against the American people.
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