President’s Trip to South Asia

* Re “Perspectives on South Asia” Commentary, March 20: All the authors, including the president, have forgotten or ignored the China axis in the India-Pakistan equation. The Communist regime has clashed in the past with India at the border and also has occupied Tibet, repressing the Buddhist Dalai Lama, who is presently sheltered in an Indian village. The defense requirements of democratic and secular India are always assessed based upon threats from the totalitarian, theocratic and autocratic rules of her neighbors. Any effort to establish democracy, secularism, regional security and to thwart the inevitable disasters must take into consideration China-India-Pakistan.

PRITHVI RAJ SINGH

President, Federation of

Hindus-Assns., Diamond Bar

*

* I emigrated to the U.S. from India over 30 years ago. It took me more than 20 years to rid myself of the hatred that most Indians feel toward Pakistan and vice versa. Indians and Pakistanis have a lot in common. We are the same people, with a rich heritage of culture and learning. Politicians from both countries, aided and abetted by colonialists past and present, benefit from keeping the two nations divided.

I, too, have a dream. For peace and prosperity to reign in the region, a United States of South Asia consisting of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kashmir, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and India needs to be established and nurtured. American citizens of ethnic origin from these nations can start this movement here, away from the daily propaganda of hate being fed to the citizens of these countries. President Clinton should take advantage of his trip to the region to start a dialogue. The potential for prosperity in the region is mind-boggling, if trade and commerce could take the place of ever-escalating hate and hostilities.

JAMSHED H. DASTUR

Balboa Island