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ANALYSIS: U.S. Seen Slow to Act in S. Asia Crisis
Thursday, May 23, 2002
(12:53 PM ET)
By Carol Giacomo
Diplomatic Correspondent / Reuters

Powell made the last major senior-level U.S. diplomatic push on a visit to the region in January. Since then, he has kept in touch with Indian and Pakistani leaders by telephone. But as the crisis worsened it was Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, who is not considered an administration heavy hitter, who made three trips to the region since March.

WASHINGTON -- Reuters
Faced with ominous new war rumblings from nuclear-capable India and Pakistan, the United States seems to be approaching the problem with a band-aid when a more urgent and long-term strategy is needed, analysts say.

Like last December when South Asia tensions reached a fever pitch, the Bush administration is maintaining close contacts with both governments and has laid plans to send a top official to the region on a temper-calming mission.

But analysts say a quicker, more intensive and more long-term U.S. response is needed from President Bush if the tinderbox conflict on the subcontinent is to be not only defused but resolved.

Any such deep involvement by Bush in another intractable foreign crisis, after he became enmeshed in Afghanistan and the Middle East, goes against the grain for a president who campaigned on keeping Washington out of international quagmires.

But analysts say urgent U.S. action is essential.

"The idea that two weeks from now or whatever is a fine time for (Deputy Secretary of State Richard) Armitage to go out there strikes me as more laid back than the situation calls for," said Teresita Schaffer, South Asia director at the Center for Security and International Studies.

Stephen Cohen, the Brookings Institution South Asia expert, agreed, but stressed that before Armitage undertakes his mission the administration must have "ideas" to promote.

"The United States doesn't have a South Asia policy except to urge our friends to be nice. That's not a policy. Hope is not a policy," said Cohen, author of "India: Emerging Power."

The Sept. 11 attacks forced a greater U.S. involvement in South Asia as Washington waged war in Afghanistan and enlisted Pakistan and India as allies in the anti-terror campaign.

* MUSHARRAF IN SPOTLIGHT
* U.S. ATTENTION ELSEWHERE
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Dan