US designation of Hizbul Mujahideen as a foreign terror outfit is a big diplomatic victory for Modi government.
The US State Department notification clearly identifies Hizbul as "one of the largest and oldest militant groups" operating in Kashmir since 1989. It is helmed by Mohammad Yusuf Shah aka Syed Salahuddin, whom the Donald Trump administration had branded a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' last June, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden meeting with the US president in Washington.
The US State Department notification clearly identifies Hizbul as "one of the largest and oldest militant groups" operating in Kashmir since 1989. It is helmed by Mohammad Yusuf Shah aka Syed Salahuddin, whom the Donald Trump administration had branded a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' last June, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden meeting with the US president in Washington.
As part of a global effort to fight terrorism, the
move will affect Hizbul's
ability to raise funds. Salahuddin had recently boasted
in an interview to a Pakistani TV channel that "Kashmiris" all across
the world are funding terrorism in India and he can procure any weapon
from the international market at the right price.
Will this initiative choke Salahuddin's access to funds? The
notification stresses that the outfit's "property and interests in
property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are
generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group."
The tag on Hizbul closely follows US announcement of a new two-by-two
ministerial dialogue mechanism with India, which is expected to put
defence and strategic consultations at the front and centre of bilateral
ties.
A White House statement following Trump's congratulatory phone call to Modi
on 15 August read: "The leaders resolved to enhance peace and stability
across the India-Pacific region by establishing a new two-by-two
ministerial dialogue that will elevate their strategic consultations."
The move was reportedly also discussed during external affairs minister
Sushma Swaraj's telephonic conversation with US secretary of state Rex
Tillerson.
Though the word 'China' wasn't mentioned anywhere in
the statement, and Washington did not elaborate on the specifics, it
is a
message to China.
The existing mechanism, which the two-by-two
ministerial dialogue is expected to replace, had been started by the
Barack Obama administration to bolster bilateral commercial ties. The
adoption of defence and strategic consultations in the mechanism
suggests that the Trump administration places greater stress on India as
a strategic partner. Consider that the India-US move is being initiated
at a time when China has irked both nations through its policies and
actions.
Trump has flatly blamed China for not doing enough to
contain North Korea's nuclear warhead and intercontinental missile
programs and had recently ordered a probe into Beijing's unfair trade
practices and "theft of intellectual property", triggering a stinging
response from China.
Concurrently, India and China have been
locked in a tense standoff in the Sikkim sector with no resolution in
sight. New Delhi accuses Beijing of violating existing boundary
mechanisms and agreements in trying to build a motorable road in a
sensitive tri-junction area also involving Bhutan, while China has
blamed India for violating its "sovereignty" and has repeatedly
threatened war.
The US hasn't said much (chiefly because India
doesn't want this to be highlighted) but has asked "both parties to have
a direct dialogue to reduce tension" – a direct endorsement of India's
stand. China has refused to talk unless Indian troops are "unilaterally
withdrawn" from the tri-junction area, a condition that is unacceptable
to New Delhi.
In this context, the fact that Trump administration
is clamping down on terrorist outfits and their leaders inimical to
India and elevating the bilateral relationship by adding a strong
defence and strategic component to already existing operational and
strategic underpinnings are clear indications of a South Asia strategy,
that looks and sounds awfully like Obama's Pivot to Asia. US action
against Pakistan-backed terrorist outfits operating on Indian soil is
also a moral indictment of China's position which has repeatedly vetoed
all Indian attempts to blacklist these terrorists at United Nations.
"I believe that the US is ready to help
India modernise its military. India has been designated a major defence
partner of the US. This is a strategic declaration that's unique to
India and the US. It places India on the same level that we have many of
our treaty allies," Commander of the US Pacific Command or PACOM
Admiral Harry Harris recently told PTI.
The
bigger implication of this synergy is an increasing belief in the US
that India — through its recent actions — is expressing a willingness to
act as Asia's security guarantor. Make no mistake, Washington has noted
India's decision not to join the Belt and Road initiative and
interprets the Doka La standoff as India's statement of intent in not
letting Asia become unipolar.
As Richard M Rossow of at the Center for Strategic and International Studies writes in The Diplomat,
the US "just received a loud, clear signal that India is ready to take
important steps to contribute to the global order, and it should
strengthen our resolve to further deepen our emerging security
partnership."
It has been said ad infinitum that a strong India is
better for global, rules-based order. The US is indicating that it
believes India's time has come.
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