By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
The Indo-US nuclear deal is in the national interests of India and it has nothing to do with Islam or Muslims, so it is absurd for Muslims to oppose it as a religious community, says Dr. A.R.M. Saleem Kidwai, Associate Professor at School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), in an interview with TwoCircles.net’s Mumtaz Alam Falahi.
Do you think Muslims in India should oppose the Indo-US nuclear deal as a religious community?
It has nothing to do with religion. It does involve India’s national interests. If it is serving national interests or not, in either case, it is going to affect the entire population of India, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or other things. It is absurd to say the deal has Muslim connotation or interests. Muslims are as good Indian as any other community is. Why then Muslims are being singled out as they are having a different view. I strongly disagree with this proposition. Among Muslims there may be people who may be opposed to the deal, there may be people who are for it and there may be people who are neutral or indifferent. And this case can be as much true with Hindus and Christians. There is no special frame about Muslims.
Listen to the interview:
Some political parties including CPM and BSP have said that the deal will antagonize Muslims. What do you say?
Who has given them the right to speak on behalf of Indian Muslims? They are just self-styled spokespersons of the Muslim community. Not only these parties some clerics in Lucknow also have expressed such views. I strongly oppose it because the deal has no Muslim connotation; it has nothing to do with Islam or Muslims.
Do you think the deal is in the interests of the country?
Certainly is. It will end our isolation that we have been suffering for a long time. We are going to get energy and there are so many advantages of it. The argument that we will become subservient to the United States is an absurd thing. Because India is such a big country, and see the history of last 50 years, we can’t be camp followers of big powers including United States.
Don’t you think the deal will affect India’s NAM-era foreign policy?
The essence or gist of the NAM-era foreign policy was independence of actions in foreign policy. And India is going to retain that.
Given the rise in demand of energy in the country, will the deal be helpful?
Certainly it will be. The argument that we have other sources of energy like coal and other things is fine. But when we are going to get energy from some other source also it should be welcomed.
How is NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) going to help India?
It will come forward and help India in coming out of the isolation it has faced from the group for so many years.
Are there any negative technical aspects of the deal?
I am not saying that it is a perfect deal or India has not conceded anything. Every agreement or treaty is based on some give and take. India might have conceded something. But we have to look the thing in totality. We should see both plus and minus points and then decide. But to the best of my knowledge, the terms and conditions offered in the deal are much better than what the United States offered to the country like China. This is the treaty which country like Pakistan has tried its best to get but couldn’t. India is getting it because of its position, its standing and resources and power. The United States had to recognize and accept India’s position. It is not one-way thing that we are for the United States. In fact, United States is more interested in getting India’s cooperation.
Do you think the deal will affect geo-political balance in the South Asian region, particularly India’s relations with its neighbours including Pakistan and China?
As far as China is concerned, everybody knows China has assured our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the recently held G-8 summit about their support. As for Pakistan, keeping in view the nature of Pakistan’s relations with the United States in the past as well as present, I don’t think India’s close relations with the United States are going to affect India’s relations with Pakistan. The United States is the only country that is also superpower which can play a constructive role in the subcontinent.
Is the deal going to affect Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline?
I don’t think so. We are moving on that direction. I strongly feel that the deal is not going to affect the gas pipeline project.
The United States has long been opposing the gas pipeline project.
This is the test of India’s strength; whether they are able to withstand pressure of the United States. It has to be seen. Why should we talk about things which have not taken place so far? In the recent past some promise has been made on that front, so things are moving in spite of the Indo-US nuke deal.