COLD WAR POLITICS OF SUPERPOWERS IN SOUTH ASIA Abstract

interests. During the Cold War ear, it was the Kremlin’s predominant policy to
reduce Western influence in the Gulf, in particular the US military presence.
The Soviets also considered the US naval forces in the Indian Ocean (Diego
Garcia) to be dangerous and wished to change the Gulf rulers’ tacit acceptance
of its presence. Moscow’s offensive considerations and access to Gulf oil were
mainly to weaken the economies of the industrialized nations and to create
uncertainty in the region to obtain some leverage or to gain concessionary
rates for Persian Gulf oil for its communist allies.
Conclusion
Since 1945 the region of South Asia had no valuable importance for the
United States but in the absence of the US the Soviet Union had taken full
advantage to expand its influence in the region. For the US region was neither
crucial to its economy nor vital for investment and trade relations. It always
had shown their interest in the region from global pursuits disregarding the
aspiration of regional actors. Thus, the US never introduced long-terms and
well-calculated policy for the region but it was more interested to prevent the
flood of communism and determined to contain the Soviet expansionism in the
Persian Gulf region. According to Perviaz Iqbal Cheema, the US always
misunderstood the “conflictual cobweb of South Asia” and pressurized
Pakistan (the most loyal ally in Asia) not to annoy India. In fact, they failed to
accommodate Pakistan’s wishes at the expense of India who always hurt the
United States interests in the region. Although the US major concern has been
and still is to strengthen India against China but policy makers have not been
successful to achieve their objectives from India. Thus, during the Cold War
the US efforts for the stability and peace in South Asia were less impressive
but the Soviet Union and China played more active role to stabilize their
influence and position in the region. In this regard, the Soviet Union supported
India and Afghanistan and China backed Pakistan to counter Delhi-Moscow
axis in the region.
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