Bush Sows South Asia Economy,
But Fallow Land May Stunt Peace
By JOHN D. MCKINNON
March 6, 2006; Page A4
ISLAMABAD -- President Bush's South Asia trip reflected his view that democracy and economic development can create political stability and security in the region, but questions remain on how far his ideas can reach, particularly in the region's most troubled areas.
The lawless tribal districts on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding, remain a challenge, administration officials said, despite pledges by the U.S. and Pakistan to improve policing and provide more economic opportunity.
"This is a very hard place," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said when briefing reporters at the conclusion of the president's trip to Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
Still, Mr. Bush's generally successful visit held out hope that his unified approach to promoting democracy and prosperity in South Asian countries was yielding benefits for the entire region.
Ms. Rice noted that compared with a few years ago, there isn't only a turnaround in U.S. relations with India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but "you come here now and there's been a dramatic change in the relationships among the countries," at least in part because of increased U.S. engagement. She and Mr. Bush pointed to improved cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the hunt for terrorists in tribal regions. Mr. Bush also noted greater cooperation and trade between India and Pakistan, historically bitter rivals whose relations have improved somewhat in recent years, after they nearly went to war in the late 1990s, then confronted a common enemy in terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
To further foster change, Mr. Bush brought proposals for economic progress to each of the three countries. He agreed to a plan to bring India into the mainstream of nuclear-power development, absolving it of its past sins in developing nuclear weapons. He also announced cooperation on more investment and commercial trade between the U.S. and New Delhi.
For Pakistan, Mr. Bush proposed a bilateral investment treaty to encourage foreign investment. He also endorsed an "opportunity zone" for remote areas of Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, making manufactured products from these areas eligible for duty-free entry into the U.S.
"Our idea is to continue to work with our strong friend and ally, work to keep the peace, to win the war on terror, to help the spread of democracy and freedom and to encourage vital economic development," Mr. Bush said at his appearance with Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, on Saturday. "Economic vitality and economic prosperity for people in the remote regions of Pakistan will help defeat the terrorists and their hateful ideology."
Still, U.S. opposition to the Indian nuclear deal was looming as a potential problem. Yesterday on ABC's "This Week," Rep. Duncan Hunter (R., Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, "I think we really need to look at this one. And I'm inclined to think that ... this type of thing is not good for us" because of future risk of proliferation problems. He said Mr. Bush was "trying to ride the nuclear tiger here. It's a tough job."
Mr. Bush's economic outreach in India also appeared to far exceed the benefits being offered to Pakistan, particularly in the energy arena. Freed of U.S. and international nuclear sanctions, India would be able to develop far more nuclear power with the help of the U.S. and other supplier nations, and reduce its dependency on foreign oil and gas. Pakistan, which like India developed its own nuclear weapons, hasn't been offered a similar deal, because of its record of sharing nuclear technology with other countries. Meanwhile, the offer of tariff-free exports from the remote mountainous regions appeared to fall short of what the country's leaders want.
Ms. Rice acknowledged in blunt terms the difficulties that remain in bringing either peace or prosperity to the challenging area, where the Taliban and al Qaeda both are continuing threats to the governments of both countries, as well as other U.S. allies.
"This region hasn't been controlled for years, ever," she said. "The British didn't control it; the Pakistanis have never controlled it. ... This is an effort to reintegrate that region into Pakistan proper."
Write to John D. McKinnon at john.mckinnon@wsj.com1 |
