Her nomination as UN envoy good for India
There are many reasons for India to welcome Nikki Haley's nomination as the new US envoy to the United Nations (UN). For one, she is an Indian-American. Born Nimrata Randhawa, she studied in the US married Michael Haley (with ceremonies both at the church and in a gurdwara,) and got into public life, eventually rising to the post of Governor of South Carolina. The second reason for India to cheer is that Haley is the first Indian-origin person to get a Cabinet-level position in the US. Indian-Americans, whether affiliated to the Democratic Party or to the Republican Party (as she is), have become powerful influences in the business and politics of the US.
They have also served in important positions during various presidencies. And yet, none made it to the Cabinet level. Only a couple of days before her name got finalised as the next UN Ambassador, there had been speculation that she would be named the Secretary of State in the Trump Administration. The talk began after she had a long meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. That appointment did not happen, with Mitt Romney, considered a hardliner, now in the race. But her nomination as UN envoy — which has to go through an internal confirmation process — is no less of an achievement.
The third reason for New Delhi to clap is her track record of being extremely supportive of India's concerns and sensitivities in matters concerning our national interests, whether they be on trade and commerce or geo-strategy or terrorism from the across the border from Pakistan. The fourth is the reportedly excellent rapport Nikki Haley shares with the Modi Government, and particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This should help India push its agenda at the United Nations, particularly on the frozen Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). One fervently hopes she will demonstrate the push that is needed from the world's only superpower to make the CCIT into reality. Since the US's efforts alone will not make this happen, Haley will have to persuade other member-countries to do their bit. It will be interesting to see how she manages to deal with intransigent nations like China, which continue to poke not just India but the US as well. Given Trump's promised aggression, Haley will have to walk on old landmines, and lay some new ones.
From the Indian perspective, what is of key importance is how Haley manages the India-Pakistan relations. While the US has the long-held position that the Kashmir issue is for New Delhi and Pakistan to resolve through bilateral mechanisms, there are related matters where her position, emanating from those of the Trump Administration, will be keenly watched in India. President-elect Trump has already indicated at taking a hard line on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism affecting not just India but Afghanistan and Bangladesh too (both incidentally are close friends of India). It will be left to Haley to pursue aggressively diplomatic measures at the UN forum to name and isolate Islamabad if the latter refuses or fails to mend its ways. Given that she too enjoys, for whatever reasons, a hard line image on this issue, New Delhi can expect some fireworks. But then all of these possibilities are, well, in the realm of possibilities.