WASHINGTON: South Asia will present a se­­rious challenge to American diplomacy in the years ahead, a Congressional Sub-Com­m­­­ittee reported today [Aug 4]. In a report, Chairman Lee H. Hamilton … said strong for­­ces are pressing the US to “disengage from the enormous problems … of the frightfully poor countries of India, Pakistan, Afg­h­anistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka”. The Sub-Com­mittee on Near East and South Asia … [h]e said … believes that the national interest of the US will best be served if the US remains concerned with stability and development of the South Asian nations and exerts … good sense in seeking mature relationship with them. …

The Defence Department said it is cautiously optimistic that after … open warfare between India and Pakistan, discussions bet­ween the two … will bear fruit on a peaceful solution… . The issues include the future of Kashmir and the state of 90,000 Pakistan pri­s­­­­oners of war in Indian prison camps. The De­­­­f­ence Department appraisal … declared that India’s military establishment, with the largest Army in the non-Communist world, is capable of … defence against any attack … China might be able to launch. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2023