Understanding hatred of Tulsi Gabbard from Pakistani Muslims (and what that says about India-Pakistan relations)

These last days, I read some tweets from critics of US candidate, Tulsi Gabbard, such as Sameera Khan (a correspondent from RT with Pakistani Muslim roots) who seems to have a serious grudge against her.

The reason? Her alleged support for Hindu nationalists in India. I won't make any commentary for this, but that is clear is that it be revealing of tensions in South Asia that exist between Hindus, Muslims and other minorities in this region of Asia.

Understanding the foreign policy of India

For those who would want to know the basis of Indian foreign policy, I can say that India is a member of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a group of states, mainly from Third World, dedicated to "representing the interests and aspirations of developing countries". The movement advocates especially "international cooperation, multilateralism, and national self-determination". This movement is, thus, the antithesis of western values that promote the so-called "humanitarian intervention" around the world.

India is not France, the United Kingdom or the United States, usually respects the sovereignty of other countries, and will always try to maintain peaceful relations with them. If tensions arise between India and another country, it is very probable that blame can be rejected on this another country rather than India. India can have complicated relations with some countries, such as Iran and North Korea, that have strong relations with Pakistan, but won't seek to broke relations with any country only for human rights violations, unless in extreme cases, such as South Africa during apartheid, Uganda during Idi Amin reign or Afghanistan during Taliban reign.

India is a country that has traditional strategic partners such as Russia, Japan, the United States, and Israel, but has also good relations with China, Iran, Syria, Brazil and most countries around the world. The main country that has conflictual relations with India (except the United States, but we know that Trump is an immature child who is unable to respect his interlocutors) is Pakistan, because of unresolved Kashmir conflict and partition that has generated tensions between Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs.

That can explain that some Muslims, especially Pakistani Muslims, have a grudge against India, and it is, understandable, that these people can mistrust Tulsi Gabbard. However, can we say that she would be "islamophobe" only for this? Because both Bush, Obama and Trump have bombed Muslim countries, thus would it not be preferable to support someone who could stop interference wars and favor peace with these countries?

India has complicated relations with Pakistan, but has also good relations with other Muslim countries such as Syria, Oman, Qatar, and has improved relations with Iran. Thus, I think that there is an irrational hatred of India and Indians among some Pakistani Muslims. We can only hope that community tensions won't encourage some people to wreck T. Gabbard campaign and become the best allies of neocon elites from both Democratic and Republican parties.

*Noting that I don't have any specific opinion about India-Pakistan tensions and that I believe that pro-peace activists should encourage mediation between these two countries.

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://tripress-social.com/2019/01/14/understanding-hatred-of-tulsi-gabbard-from-pakistani-muslims-and-what-that-says-about-india-pakistan-relations/

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