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Great game of power struggle

over Afghanistan is not yet over INTERNATIONAL

the world that it can insist for peace on their political outfits. On the other hand, Russian power in the international
its terms. The US administration under Trump’s administration continues to politics, especially in Syria. He has stale-
Trump is facing formidable challenges grope in the international politics. mated the West in Ukraine. The Ameri-
from the weather-beaten world lead- In this backdrop, Putin’s India visit cans and its NATO allies could not re-
ers like Russian Federation president needs to be assessed and how India is assert their victory of 1854-55, when
Vladimir Putin and the Chinese presi- trying to conduct herself in this difficult the Western nations had revenged the
dent Xi Jinping. It is for the first time power game. Prime Minister Narendra defeat of Napoleon, by trouncing the
since World War-II that the leader of Modi, appears to have re-invoked the British-led coalition forces of France
the world’s most powerful cuntry is non-aligned role of India to reassert and Turkey in the Ceriman war. Turkey,
considered a baccha (kid) or a novice in his country’s interests. It is tough task. a strong ally of the West, is now closer
the chess game of the world politics. He For India, it is quite alarming that the to Russian Federation. The Russians
is pitted against weather-beaten lead- traditional conflict between the coun- have also tried to woo Greece by invok-
ers like of the Russian Federation presi- tries of Western Europe and Russia ing common religious belief of being
dent Vladimir Putin or the Chinese has reached our threshold in the form follower of the Orthodox Church.
president, Xi Jinping. of the Afghan mess. The inability of the For the Indian negotiators, Putin ap-
Within the US establishment, Trump European powers to play any proactive pears to be much better than some of
supporters are accused of using some role, especially under the shadow of the the leaders of the erstwhile USSR. He
clandestine Russian support during the new Sino-Russian understanding, the is so well-versed in international af-
Pitch for peace Russia is ready to be a peace high-pitch political rhetoric that led to fairs that he cannot be bracketed with
broker between Kabul and Afghan Talibans his victory. The allegation of the Russian Kosygin, USSR prime minister, who had
interference in the US presidential poll almost forced Indian Prime Minister
is yet to be substantiated, but it is no de- The historical Lal Bahadur Shastry to return all the ar-
nying that Putin, a former intelligence struggle of the eas wrested from Pakistan in the 1965
officer, is feared across the globe. He has war. In spite of restoring territories to
emerged as an undisputed leader of his northern alliance Pakistan, Kossygin could not win any
The big powers — comprising US, Russia and China — keen to control this strategic country. The suspicion that Russians supported by Iran, political constituency in the Islamic
region of South Asia seem to be opting for new alignment of forces as Putin visits India on the used various methods to malign Clin- country. In fact, Pakistan soon forgot
eve of Afghan polls, writes GOPAL MISRA tons, which ultimately helped Trump India and Russia the crucial Russian support and contin-
to occupy White House, was master- against the Islamic ued to send Islamic terrorists to India’s
minded by Putin’s administration. The north-eastern region via its Eastern
nternational observers across the Talibans jointly sponsored by USA and dle its client state, Pakistan. In spite of apprehension is that Russia wants to zealots of Talibans province, now Bangladesh.
world are concerned whether Pakistan has undergone changes. The warning and persuasions, its rulers destabilise US political system, because jointly sponsored by It also trained Islamic terrorists,
the already-delayed Afghan par- Islamic zealots had played a key role in have become past masters in the art of Trump’s victory has relegated eminent including Chechen Islamic terrorists,
liamentary elections could ever the fragmentation of the USSR, but the seeking funds from all possible sources politicians and those who could influ- US and Pakistan has which the West describes as freedom
I be conducted. With the inability irrepressible group lost its crucial sup- by keeping Afghanistan unstable. The ence the world’s global politics. undergone changes fighters and Pakistan endorses it. Pu-
of the West-sponsored Kabul govern- port of West following the terrorists’ ac- West is led, this time, by an unpredict- Amidst these developments, Putin’s tin and his country could not forget the
ment to assert its writ in the country tivities in Europe and the destruction of able Donald Trump. It is true that he visit to India gains significance. In In- dark night of October 23, 2002, when
and the growing proximity between the twin towers in New York. may not be compared with legendary dia too, the post 2014 polls has created these terrorists had seized the prestig-
the Afghan Talibans and the Russians In the obtaining situation Rus - figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bill a power vacuum even within the ruling US initiatives are limited. ious Dubroka theatre centre in Moscow
has worsened situation in the strife- sia under Putin is much closer to the Clinton and Richard Nixon. He cannot Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).Its many vet- During the period of more than two and massacred or maimed nearly 200
torn country. It is accompanied by the Afghan Talibans and is ready to be a be compared even with highly intel- eran leaders are in the political wilder- decades, especially following the col- people. They believed to have links with
double game of the Pakistani estab- peace broker between Kabul and the lectual Barrack Obama, but his zeal to ness. The worsening situation in India’s lapse of the USSR, the US and its allies the Pakistani-based al Qaeda to con-
lishment i.e. its army and intelligence Islamic group. The Pakistani establish- resolve the Afghan conflict appear to neghbourhood from Male, Sir Lanka deliberately expanded its presence duct international terrorist operations
agency, ISI, has further complicated the ment, though now having a civilian be irrepressible. He may not have the to Nepal is alarming, the competence in the Russian strongholds. The new abroad. A matured Putin has adopted
political climate with growing violence face of a celebrity in Imran Khan as the intellectual support of eminent people of our career diplomats, various think trouble spots from the Balkans, Black the policy of having patience with Paki-
in the north-western region of the In- new prime minister, is ready to extract like his predecessors had in his admin- tanks and leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Sea, West Asia and now Afghanistan stan, while it is being abandoned by the
dian sub-continent. maximum funds and resources from istration as Secretary of State such as India’s External Affairs Minister, a have brought the West and Russians West. The great game has begun.
The great game of power struggle the West, especially USA, in the name of Hillary Clinton, John Kerry or Henry proven expert of world affairs, has been in almost a new confrontation mode. Putin was in the team of Yeltsin,
among the big powers comprising USA, negotiating with the Afghan Talibans, Kissinger. Yet Trump hopes to succeed trying to safeguard the country’s inter- The inability of the Western Europe to when the 1971 Peace and Friendship
Russia and China for controlling this which were once trained by its forces with his zeal and energy and with the ests. In spite of the rhetoric against the project a common approach too has re- treaty between India and USSR was re-
strategic region is now being witness- to be used against the USSR and then help of his clever Secretary of State previous governments, the South Block stricted initiatives of President Trump. vised. On the insistence of the Russians,
ing with the new alignment of forces. India. The roots of the Kashmir violence Mike Pompeo, who once headed CIA. is pursuing the established perennial The broad picture in India’s neighbor- the security clause in the treaty, which
The historical struggle of the northern could be traced to the Talibans liberally The formidable USA under Trump foreign policy formulated during the hood is dismal. It causes concerns, if not had helped in redrawing the political
alliance supported by Iran, India and supported by the US funds. is unable to restore confidence of its Jawaharlal Nehru days and endorsed by panic. geography of the Indian subcontinent,
Russia against the Islamic zealots of The Americans are unable to han- allies in Europe as well as in the rest of successive governments irrespective of Putin is credited for reasserting the was removed. Since many compare

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