India, Pakistan, and the United States: Breaking With the Past

This book examines the triangular relationship among the United States, India, and Pakistan over the last fifty years. In her analysis, Tahir-Kheli discusses India and Pakistan's place in the Cold War, regional alliances and alignments of South Asia, disputes within the region, and the prospects of nuclear proliferation. The author argues that the United States must break with its past policy practice of focusing on South Asian issues only during periods of high tension caused by regional wars, Soviet occupation, or nuclear-related crises. The absence of superpower competition and the rise of a new generation of Pakistanis and Indians willing to break from the past and focus on economic development and foreign investment provide an important opportunity for both the United States and South Asia. Sustained U.S. involvement in the region could also help provide creative solutions to the intransigent problems of Kashmir and nuclear proliferation. And such an approach could generate tremendous economic opportunities for the United States in one of the world's largest markets. In summary, this comprehensive study closes the gap in American understanding of the two most populous states in South Asia, realizing that greater knowledge must precede a constituency for sustained interest in the region by Washington. ..."I was very impressed with her more detailed and comprehensive analysis of the U.S.-Pakistan and U.S.-Indian relations in the post-Cold War era, and also her deepened analysis of the nuclear proliferation issues in the post-1990 period." Leo Rose, Editor, Asian Survey.