F-16s and pipelines

F-16s and pipelines

Condoleezza Rice is employing a characteristic carrot-and- stick policy with New Delhi. First, she dangles the bait of supplying F-16s as well as joint production of the fighter jet. The next moment Rice makes disapproving noises on the proposed India-Iran gas pipeline.

Indeed it is a win-win situation for the U.S. If the F-16 deal comes through then the U.S. defense industry would receive a much-needed boost.

Next, if the U.S. manages to scuttle the Iran pipeline, then Tehran remains economically isolated and India's energy requirements remain unmet. Rice has offered to compensate India by providing American technology for nuclear power. But this would ensure that India is dependent on US's whims and fancies.

New Delhi needs to respond to Washington's realpolitik unambiguously: We must look to our interests first. And that entails going ahead with the Iran pipeline, which represents a host of advantages for India, even if it means losing out on fancy toys like the F-16s. -- The Times of India, New Delhi