69.20: South Asia
Other Information:
We welcome a stronger relationship with the world’s largest democracy, India, both economic and cultural, as well as in terms
of national security. We hereby affirm and declare that India is our geopolitical ally and a strategic trading partner. We
encourage India to permit greater foreign investment and trade. We urge protection for adherents of all India’s religions.
Both as Republicans and as Americans, we note with pride the contributions to this country that are being made by our fellow
citizens of Indian ancestry. The aftermath of the last decade’s conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan has put enormous pressure
on the political and military infrastructure of Pakistan, which faces both internal terrorism and external dangers. The working
relationship between our two countries is a necessary, though sometimes difficult, benefit to both, and we look toward the
renewal of historic ties that have frayed under the weight of international conflict. The imminent withdrawal from Afghanistan
of the 30,000 “surge” troops sent there two years ago comes weeks before this year’s presidential election and against the
advice of the current President’s top military commanders. Future decisions by a Republican President will never subordinate
military necessity to domestic politics or an artificial timetable. Afghans, Pakistanis, and Americans have a common interest
in ridding the region of the Taliban and other insurgent groups, but we cannot expect others to remain resolute unless we
show the same determination ourselves. We will expect the Afghan government to crackdown on corruption, respect free elections,
and assist our fight against the narcotic trade that fuels the insurgency. We must likewise expect the Pakistan government
to sever any connection between its security and intelligence forces and the insurgents. No Pakistani citizen should be punished
for helping the United States against the terrorists.
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