The Samosa Caucus is not some new Indian fast food chain. It could be the American way of telling you that you’ve arrived. In that sense, the Indian Americans who have risen from low profile immigrant origins to an economically successful community, are now climbing the political ladder in Washington DC and Pakistan is concerned.
An article in the Dawn newspaper underscored those concerns, pointing out that the Indian Americans are increasingly in a position where they could dictate the South Asian and Indian narrative in the halls of Congress and of course the White House.
Recent appointments by the new Trump administration have added to those concerns, notably the appointment of Ricky Gill to the National Security Council where he will handle the India account and report directly to National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Or Bengaluru-born Saurabh Sharma who has moved into President Trump’s Office Of Personnel, overseeing key appointments. Or for that matter Kush Desai, who will be deputy press secretary in the White House.
The Dawn quotes Michael Kugelman, well known South Asia analyst, who has added to those fears, pointing out that Pakistan could end up losing whatever leverage it has had so far. The fact that the new administration has China hawks like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has raised fears that Pakistan may fall casualty given its proximity to Beijing.
Pakistan is part of the CPEC (China-Pak Economic Corridor) and that is seen negatively in some quarters in the US. In the current circumstances, with China hawks in the US establishment and Trump’s threats to impose 60% tariffs on imported Chinese products, Islamabad’s China connection could provoke a backlash.
There is the argument in Islamabad that it could serve as a conduit to Beijing and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Neither argument make sense given that the US talks to China directly, also with the Taliban in Doha and other places.
