US should nurture democracy in South Asia

The strained relations between India and Pakistan have sunk to their lowest point in recent history. The tension between these two longtime enemies has dramatically escalated since last spring, and has only become more dangerous with the December hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by a terrorist group that India alleges is supported by Pakistan. The seriousness of this conflict may finally prompt the evolution of the normally fragmented American policy towards the region into something more pragmatic and effective, and US policymakers would be wise to heed the warning signs and tread extra cautiously on the subcontinent. Moreover, they need to think outside the box and work diligently to move beyond the traditional "emergency basis" US foreign policy towards India and Pakistan (if one can label American activities in the region 'coherent policy'). Washington's embarrassing tendency with South Asia has been to be caught with its head in the clouds and its pants way down, way too late. A classic example is the CIA's complete inability/unwillingness to take notice of the indications of nuclear testing in both India and Pakistan in May of 1998.