

I.K. Gujral, Former prime minister
It was a mistake to make SAARC subservient to Indo-Pak ties. We should have more and more sub-regional groupings. With Pakistan if possible, without it if necessary.


J.N. Dixit, Former foreign secretary
Our ability to deal decisively with Pakistan gets limited with Musharraf in the US’ good books. We must accept the US will certainly be more capable and inclined to prevent nuclear confrontation.


Sitaram Yechuri, CPI(M) politburo member
The US has a track record of interfering in the internal politics ofindependent countries to ensure the establishment and continuance of pro-US governments.


Kanti Bajpai, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
It means that there is going to be a lot more regular concerted American involvement in Kashmir. But on the whole, it will be a force for stability in the region.


S.D. Muni, Former ambassador to Laos and JNU professor
We will be seen as an ally and collaborator of US strategic interest in the region, whether it amounts to encroachment/interference/ deterrence with respect to the region.
The American View


Michael Krepon, President emeritus, Stimson Center, Washington
We are going to be consulting India whether or not we have a presence in Asia. The larger issue is: are the US and India going to continue on a very positive trajectory? There are alternative scenarios.


Stephen Cohen, Senior fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington
The US is a sheriff in terms of going after Al Qaeda. But that has temporarily reduced the importance of the US playing the role of an offshore balancer.


Francine Frankel, University of Pennsylvania
There is a great deal of frustration. There is a feeling that unless the economic relationship develops, other parts of the ties will not be robust enough to carry it.


Ted Carpenter, Cato Institute, Washington
There isn’t much to hold our interest in Pakistan. There are mainly negative incentives. We want stable control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. We don’t want Pakistan to turn into a failed state.


Ashutosh Varshney, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The US presence is a constraint and an opportunity. The US involvement in Pakistan and the presence of its troops there means certain kinds compromises with Pakistan’s interests are inevitable.