Central Asia is much in demand these days, whether as a transit route for U.S. and NATO supplies to Afghanistan as an alternative to Pakistan or for its rich resources, including oil and gas.
So it’s worth noting that India has been hosting Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev as its guest of honour at its Republic Day celebrations while signing a bunch of trade deals in the process. According to reports in the Indian media, including in the Business Standard, the Week and the Times of India, India is seeking supplies of uranium for its nuclear plants and access to Kazakhstan’s oil and gas and in return would be expected to support Kakazhstan’s bid for membership of the World Trade Organisation. (India’s state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) said on Saturday it had signed a deal to explore for oil and gas in Kazakhstan.)
Before anyone gets too carried away about India stealing a march in Central Asia, this Indian website adds a note of realism: “India’s strategy towards Central Asian countries has been no different than its strategy towards African nations, and can be only summarized as ‘playing catch-up with the Chinese’,” it says. “In this new “Great Game” of the century, India is consistently assuming the role of “Johnny-come-lately” to China in Central Asia.”
That said, it still struck me as an interesting signpost in the competition between Asia and the U.S-led west for resources and influence, with Central Asia likely to become increasingly important both as a source of energy and as a supply route to Afghanistan.
The significance of this competition is unlikely to be lost on Russia which, according to this article by former Indian diplomat M K Bhadrakumar ,could end up playing off the United States against China. He writes that while Russia does not want to see the United States and NATO defeated in Afghanistan, nor does it want them to use Central Asian supply routes to Afghanistan as an excuse to win access to the region’s oil and gas. “Russian experts estimate that the proposed Caspian transit route could eventually become an energy transportation route in reverse direction, which would mean a strategic setback for Russia in the decade-long struggle for the region’s hydrocarbon reserves.” So as part of this complex balancing act, he says, it is looking for a bigger role for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation — dominated by Russia and China — in stabilising Afghanistan.
Critics of the Bush administration acknowledged that former vice-president Dick Cheney got the importance of Central Asia even as they condemned his methods. Now India is jumping in on the act. How is the new administration of President Barack Obama going to approach Central Asia, while juggling relations with Russia, trying to turn the tide in Afghanistan and reducing U.S. dependence on Pakistan?
(Photos: President Nursultan Nazarbayev inspects guard of honour in New Delhi/B. Mathur
Young hunter with his tame golden eagle in central Kazakhstan/Shamil Zumakov)
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Saf
religion, caste, creed & culture…
- Posted by AnupSaf
—Constructive criticism is always welcome, what you construe as non-transparency, discrimination et al, are the inbuilt hazards of a democratic society, for not to be content is human, but that it can enjoy the freedom to express is a fundamental right of every human also…
- Posted by AnupSaf, India, is a role model worthy of being emulated by the world, there is no ‘Nationalism’ as such,yet doesn’t suffers from any identity crisis, it’s diversified, more than the whole of Europe put together - not divided,there are innumerable values to be imbibed from India, but doesn’t superimpose it’s worthiness,for that is indulged in by the superficial types…it’s not a religious country but spiritual, yes, and this holds true across the board irrespective of caste, creed & culture…
“What to comment on this….you’ve gotta experience a thriving & vibrant democracy to understand it…”
I have. Nice to see you admitting and enjoying a foreign article pointing out your country’s flaw mentioned by an HRW group which sounds opposite to your ‘nobody’s business of what we do’ tirade, after initially labelling it a fabrication.
Yes, its nice to admire democratic principles however this is still unsatisfactory as in a true democracy charges would press ahead with transparency and new policies would be instated to avoid such harrassment and abuse of minorities and the grieviances of the communities would be addressed further where a protest would have been deemed unnecessary.
(One of the protest organisers, Maulana Amir Rashadi, said Muslim youths were being falsely targeted as terrorists.
The protesters arrived in Delhi carrying banners which said: “Let the truth prevail, bring the innocents out of jail” and “Give us security, not tears and blood”.)
(”We are hoping for justice. We are hoping for transparency.”)
Yea, I know how to copy and paste ‘words out of text’ too.
Anyways this isn’t to degrade India or mock its HR. I point this out to highlight the flaws that need to be addressed to create the model India can be for Asia, if not, the world. Of course you don’t deem it necessary for India to be a ‘role model’, so we’ll have to disagree with each other on that.
- Posted by SafSaf
—forgot to add- there were probably 2007 protesters, protesting for an incident(investigation into two bomb blasts) that happened 2007 miles away, in the year 2007… in 2009.
- Posted by AnupSaf
“Indian Muslims are holding a mass demonstration in the capital,”
“The train travelled from ‘Azamgarh’ in northern Uttar Pradesh state and picked up more passengers en route to Delhi.”
“The BBC’s Joana Jolly in Delhi says more than ‘2,000′ people gathered at the protest at Jantar Mantar, a popular forum for demonstrations.”
“The Muslims here are proud to be patriotic, they have promoted the concept of peace here, they ‘live’ together ‘in harmony’,”
“In November, Human Rights Watch said police in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh should be prosecuted for torturing Muslims detained after bomb blasts last year.”
“The state government had admitted that 21 men had been tortured and would each receive $600 in compensation.”
—What to comment on this….you’ve gotta experience a thriving & vibrant democracy to understand it…
- Posted by AnupLovely sarcasm, Anup.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/78 57468.stm
- Posted by SafFabricated, indeed.
Saf
- Posted by AnupHate you? No way buddy, I love your type,cunning ones, I love unmasking you’ll & expose the posturing, behind which lurk wily intentions…& hidden agendas & fabricated propagandas. (“There were new protests in India against the police in regards to torture of Muslims in custody and general harrassment.”)
Thanks Anup,
“we urge the United States to give us necessary resources — upgrading our equipment and providing the newest technology — so that we can fight the terrorists proactively on our terms, not reactively on their terms. Give us the tools, and we will get the job done.”
– Royal urging, and diplomatically begging… Zardari charisma.
How will China react or are they outing from the game?
- Posted by BloggerWhatever the reason is, lets just stay out of each other’s way on the newer blog posts. Thanks.
- Posted by Safif only I could have part 2 posted to stress the globalization point. *sigh*
Anup,
You really really hate me, don’t you?
I’ve seen Slumdog and the criticisms pointed in the article are some of the criticisms I had pointed out to most of my peers. The ultra violence. The issue of using the word ’slumdog’. However I’m not anti Slumdog as you may be. It is still a good critical movie, though perhaps with cultural bias, not totally inherently wrong as the abuses are real. I had heard similar critics of the Kite Runner as people thought Hollywood were exploiting the pains of the Hazaras. However if you read the book, that wasn’t the author’s intent, and neither was the movie really. What irks though is the hype its receiving which I think is probably more coinciding with the attacks in Mumbai, however its possible they would have garnered the same nominations whatever the situation. However despite the cons, I don’t see the movie as a ‘cultural debauchery’ as you may.
EXCUSE me, YOU did comment on the ‘WHITE’. You’re the one who brought it up, bro including slavery.I take offence to your racial stereotyping of me being a brown dude kissing up to a white dude. That’s rather racist. Or maybe you just hate brown dudes who like to live a Western life?
So I can’t mention ANYTHING nice or appreciate any good traits about any ‘white’ or ‘West’ country because that would dictate a mentality of white slavery? I guess since we’re both using a FINE (let me stress that in capitals because I’m such a suck up) service blog provided by REUTERS and typing in English, I must be a slave. Oh wait, aren’t you on Reuters too giving you’re opinions to a Western media audience?
You didn’t post an article from a writer, AB, because he/she’s brown? So you decided to give me a white writer’s article? Talk about prejudice.
Those young kids in the movie still live in crappy slums though are going to school now. There were new protests in India against the police in regards to toruture of Muslims in custody and general harrassment. Are you telling the HRW groups, NGOs and the concerned citizens to stick their nose out of any humanitarian issue that may arise? Not exactly a display of democratic principles. I didn’t realize you were working on creating an arrogant secretive communist society.
Look, clearly Anup you dislike me for whatever reason as I could tell with the ‘oppresser/oppressed’ comment you created in the other blog post.
- Posted by SafSaf
Oops! AB is a brown man,(slumdog millionaire) my apologies, this link would be more likely appreciated by you…
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment /columnists/alice_miles/article5511650. ece
- Posted by AnupSaf
- Posted by AnupIt’s not the ‘White’ that I’m commenting on, rather the manner in which people like you form an illusive image of them & are awestruck about, then go all out on all fours, seeking their approval & clamouring for their attention, & this ‘slave mentality’ is very much obvious in your post… we are competent enough to manage our own Human right index & are not ‘obliged’ to give an account of it to anyone, nor do we indulge in ‘global policing’, The ‘German’ part of the cons. is a open-minded discussion about Globalization, for us, unlike you, the west is not unipolar, for ‘Slumdog mill.’ Visit AB’s Blogsite, you’ll get a similar & befitting reply over there…
Part 3:
Currently India made a plea for the safety of Sri Lankan civilians. Is that something you’re against as well…? I’m sure some Sri Lankans maybe thankful for the gesture though late. Thanks for entertaining my ‘perverted glee’ whatever that means…the hostility, sheesh!
Here’s hoping India comes out ahead and not held back by an isolationist ‘not give a damn’ attitude, and give more of its good to the world. At least I want India to be No. 1 and I think Anitha underscored an area for improvement (though I worry you may resent an opinion from a German ‘master’).
- Posted by SafPart 1
Anup,
What’s with the white hate? Not answer your core questions? Are you kidding me? They’re irrelevant. I’m sorry…but I don’t recall calling China a human rights champion. China’s human rights sucks from border to border and I mentioned that earlier. Why are you so envious that the West favours them? You know and I know its for the money. But guess what? They get wrapped for abuses by most organizations that are based and inspired mostly in first world countries!
But are you saying that there’s no point in being a model if not recognized? Or shouldn’t try at all because you don’t give a damn about the world?
You’re right. There are a lot of human rights activists in India…as there’s also a lot of human rights issues as well that have yet to be fixed. Don’t conveniently brush it under the mat. I take you’re one of those people who are anti ‘Slumdog Millionaire’? Luckily I have my hair intact so I win out on that. Don’t be rude.
- Posted by SafBlogger
- Posted by AnupExcerpts from:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012702675. html
Blogger (couldn’t ans.in the prev. post)
Zardari is basically demanding a ransom from the Americans, tossing the ‘K’ word is just a formality…
“For almost 60 years the relationship between Pakistan and America has been based on quid pro quo policies with short-term goals and no long-term strategy. Frankly, the abandonment of Afghanistan and Pakistan after the defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s set the stage for the era of terrorism that we are enduring. U.S. support for the priorities of dictatorship…”
“Assistance to Pakistan is not charity;”
“The Obama administration should immediately encourage Congress to pass the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act. The multiyear, $1.5 billion annual commitment…”
- Posted by AnupAnitha,
- Posted by Blogger…Chinese draconian labor laws which are making the life of companies tougher year after year…
– That’s made a big impact on them. Chinese labors are used to it. Making them to think out of the box is really tougher. It really take an hour or two to make them understand about the things, and finally a sigh from our end and an appreciation from their end, cos the matter was so simple
Anup, India offers more than china does to set up shops in here..Free land that to in SEZ, cheaper labour than china..on an average people with same qualification and similar job in shanghai gets paid 1.5 times as much as from their Bangalore counterparts. Free electricity ?? I dont think so..south east part of china was continuoulsy out of power since olympics for different reasons and they still have sever shortages..added to that are chinese dracunion labour laws which are making the life of companies tougher year after year..
- Posted by AnithaAll said but it would be very interesting to watch china struggle if the global economic slump continues throughout 2009..it may lead to many changes starting from people starting to protest against high taxes there.
Or china may impose regulations like only one cheque in a month for a bank account holder..ban all ATM machines. God knows what.
“that doesn’t- absolves -us of our failures”
- Posted by AnuAnitha
The main reason for setting shop in china are the subsidies,(free land, cheap labour, free electricity etc.) the western mfg’s will enjoy all this & when the chips are down - abandon China lock, stock & barrel.
- Posted by AnupRajeev has given a good account of the diff. we are 85% self-sufficient , 15% export dependence, thanks to the forceful isolation by the west since last 4 decades, anyways, that doesn’t resolves us of our failures, mainly for the socialist mindset pursued, yet our human prosperity index is nevertheless on the rise & what stats does anyone has access to the plight of over a billion chinese, for almost all the development is limited to a concentrated area, mainly Hans chinese…