‘Imminent Prospect’ of India Becoming a Football in US Politics: Ashley Tellis, Carnegie Endowment
In an interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Dr. Ashley Tellis said that there is likely to be an increase in constituencies in America that voice concern about Indian democracy and India’s treatment of minorities. As he put it, there’s rising concern in the United States about these issues. However, he added that there’s a real possibility that if Democrats raise these issues their Republican opponents might choose to take an opposite stand. If that happens the traditional bipartisan consensus could easily erode and lead to India becoming a football or a partisan issue in US politics.
Dr. Tellis also told The Wire that there is “a sea change in US attitudes to Pakistan”. He said he hopes that the incoming Biden administration will be able to rebuild “a productive relationship with Pakistan” but that won’t happen at the cost of relations with India or at the cost of US concerns about Pakistan’s involvement in terror.
Speaking about the incoming Vice President, Kamala Harris, Dr. Tellis said that she would neither be “a closet advocate nor a closet critic for India in the White House”.
Dr. Tellis also told The Wire that there is “a sea change in US attitudes to Pakistan”. He said he hopes that the incoming Biden administration will be able to rebuild “a productive relationship with Pakistan” but that won’t happen at the cost of relations with India or at the cost of US concerns about Pakistan’s involvement in terror.
Speaking about the incoming Vice President, Kamala Harris, Dr. Tellis said that she would neither be “a closet advocate nor a closet critic for India in the White House”.