Well, this may be a benefit, although I thought Pakistan – US and India – US relations were totally seperate from each other….
India riled by US-Pakistan ties
By Charles Haviland
BBC, Delhi
Powell (l) told Pakistan the news during his recent regional tour
India has expressed disappointment at a decision by the United States to upgrade its relations with India’s neighbour and rival, Pakistan, without informing India in advance.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry in Delhi said Washington’s designation of Pakistan as a major non-Nato ally would have “significant implications for India/US relations”.
These are strong words from India, clearly rattled at Washington’s decision to bestow this new status on Pakistan.
The reaction is a sign of the ever sensitive relations the two sub-continental rivals have with each other and with the world’s only super power.
The new status will put Pakistan in the company of such key American allies as Israel, Japan and Jordan.
It will give Islamabad access to US-owned military stockpiles on its territory and privileged rights to US military training.
Frosty
The announcement was hardly a surprise – America and Pakistan have enjoyed special ties since the 1950s – but the timing shocked India.
The news came from the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, while visiting Islamabad on Thursday. Just a day earlier, he had left India.
While here, Mr Powell said Indian/American ties, including military ones, were perhaps better than ever before.
But Saturday’s frosty statement said he had not shared with Delhi this new decision on Pakistan.
It comes as India prepares for general elections in a month’s time.
The governing Bharatiya Janata Party is seeking to play up a feel good factor in the country, including India’s own aspirations to super power status.
But Delhi took two days to give this response – a day after the opposition Congress party called the decision on Pakistan “a public repudiation of India”.
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