Common Sense and Political Will
Published in Kashmir Herald, Vol 4/No. 4 2004, by Prof. K.N. Pandita.
Philip Talbot, the former senior officer in the State Department during Clinton administration has been quoted on Indo-Pak relations and Kashmir issue by the Indian print media in recent days. He may no more be in the corridor of power, nevertheless, the US foreign policy framing system does not let precious experience and practical knowledge of former seniors in regard to complicated international issues go unutilised. In particular, Talbot is said to have developed intimate knowledge and perhaps also the appreciation of the basics of Indian foreign policy.
Talbot’s assertion that there is uniqueness in US-Pakistan relations has not to be taken in a negative sense. Actually he has said nothing new. The US has had unique relations with Pakistan from the day independent India decided to be a close partner of the former Soviet Union and the socialist bloc.