On the eve of his India visit, an American think tank today said Richard Holbrooke, the Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, has a tough task ahead to "convince" New Delhi that the US can keep the Pakistan's ISI and militants under check.
Holbrooke would be accompanied by US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen when he visits New Delhi on Tuesday for the second time after being appointed as Special Envoy. "The Indians are well aware that the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence is not prepared to cut ties with its array of militant proxies, particularly those the ISI has cultivated to focus attacks on India in the name of Kashmir," said Stratfor, an American think tank, in its comment.
"As the ISI tries to rein in those militant proxies that have slipped from Islamabad's grasp, it will likely try to regain their support by redirecting their attention away from Pakistan and toward India, an enemy on which both Islamabad and the militants can agree. As a result, it is likely India will come under attack again," Stratfor warned.
As Washington needs Islamabad to focus on its western border with Afghanistan, and not on India, the last thing the US needs is for India and Pakistan to come to blows again. "To dodge this outcome, Holbrooke and Mullen will have to do their best to convince New Delhi that Washington can keep the Pakistanis in check," it said.
