M.K. Bhadrakumar

The terrorist carnage in Mumbai resulting in more than 170 deaths draws attention to the role of Pakistan, which India instinctively accuses of responsibility. Delhi initially distinguished between terrorist groups in Pakistan and the Pakistani authorities as such, but that distinction is getting blurred. Islamabad rejects imputations of involvement. Reflexes are hardening on both sides. Any American efforts to mediate the crisis will face complex challenges, with the outcome weighing heavily on the Obama administration's goal of stabilizing Afghanistan.
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The buzzwords in Washington discussions of South Asia are "regional solution." But regional protagonists are anxious about what such an approach might entail. Barack Obama likely will need the cooperation of China to find such a solution -- a worrying prospect for India. Meanwhile, India sees an Afghanistan free from foreign influence as its best bet. more