It is tragic that the only choices that the central Asian and middle eastern countries seem to have, lie either with Islamic fundamentalism or benevolent (or not so benevolent) dictatorships. While the eastern European countries managed to (largely) liberate themselves and are making a painful migration to market economy, the Muslim majority central Asian countries couldn?t escape. They are mostly saddled with recycled communists from the USSR era. These guys are as uncomfortable with Islamic fundamentalism as are the democratic entities. The logic of the war on terrorism dictated that US cozy up to those thugs. Now it seems that India is following suit. Central Asia has fond memories of India from the Indira Gandhi days when India was close to USSR and the only romantic fare undiluted by ideological messages that they were allowed to have was of the Indian variety. Hindi movies were a big export. It seems that we are looking to cement those friendships.

India Today (June 17, 2002) mentioned:

?India gifted two Mi-8 helicopters to Tajikistan and sealed a defense pact with Dushanbe. It also signed a defense MOU on 3rd with Kazakhstan, which makes the Illyush heavy lift military aircraft. Uzbekistan and Kyrghystan have agreed to share information on terrorism in the region. India is also ?helping US remove nuclear debris from the region.?

I suppose its a strategic necessity. But the idea of a closer alliance with these countries makes me vaguely uncomfortable. We seem to have forgotten that we had also befriended the Najibullah regime in Afghanistan during the Russian occupation period and paid a huge price for the next so many years after that regime was overturned. All the Afghan Mujahed factions have been hostile to us.

Most of the Central Asian regimes have no legitimacy. USA can get away with an opportunistic policy simply because they are muscular enough to get away with it. It is hard to prosper in the current economic environment with an antagonistic attitude to USA. Unfortunately, the same is not true for India. Also, the human rights abuses would get worse if no one makes any noise about it.

US foreign policy team is pandering to the massive egos of the current crop of Indian politicians to get them to toe the party line. And India is playing up to it. Consider this.

?There is a great responsibility that comes with being in the Superpower Club. India is about to join the world on that Superpower stage, and I hope she can restraint herself and act very responsibly.?

- Richard Armitage (Deputy. Secretary of state)

Can we get any more ridiculous?