India, Pakistan, and the United States

Book excerpt: In India, Pakistan, and the United States. Dr. Shirin R. Tahir-Kheli points out that the end of the Cold War and the rise of a new generation of Indians and Pakistanis willing to break with the past and concentrate on economic development provide opportunities for all three countries. Sustained American involvement in South Asia - previously the United States has tended to focus on the region only during periods of international crisis - could both generate major economic opportunities for the United States in one of the world's largest markets and help solve the difficult issues of Kashmir and nuclear proliferation. Discussing South Asia's disputes, alliances, and alignments, its role in the Cold War, and the prospects for controlling the spread of nuclear weapons, the author considers the past, present, and future relations among India, Pakistan, and the United States. This book is a valuable contribution to improving American understanding of two of the world's most populous countries.