James Forsyth James Forsyth

Threat perception

Bruce Riedel, who ran Obama’s review of Afghanistan and Pakistan policy, makes a telling point in his interview with the Indian magazine Outlook:

“It’s worth noting that the first trip abroad by the new director of the CIA, Leon Panetta, was to New Delhi. That’s a signal that the US recognises that it needs a stronger security partnership in the struggle against terrorism with India.”

The US and India are natural allies in the struggle against Islamist terrorism. But the fact that Panetta went to New Delhi first is further evidence that the US regards Pakistan and the instability there as the greatest threat to American security.

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