India, like the US, wants terror outfit defeated
It is heartening that the United States has finally decided to crack down on the growing menace of the Islamic State, also variously known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and the Islamic State in Iraq and the levant. But it is not clear how the US will conduct its campaign given that it has ruled out putting combat troops on the ground. A White House spokesperson has said that the US can achieve its purpose of, in President Barack Obama's words, “degrading and destroying” the IS through working with friends and allies not just in Iraq and Syria but also the Arab world in general. The US is seeking to drum up support through other means such as the G-7. But it has already hit a few hurdles; Turkey, according to reports, has refused permission to a US-led coalition for the use of its bases to launch air strikes in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. And, while the Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia will be more than happy to provide moral and other support to the US in its war against the IS, it is unclear to what extent Riyadh will walk the talk. Meanwhile, Washington, DC, has some ironies to sort out. For instance, while it has been deeply critical of the Syrian Government for the manner in which the latter has handled its internal conflict — and there had come occasions when the talk of US boots on the ground in Syria against the Bashar al-Assad regime had gained currency — the US may have to work with Mr Assad to contain the IS. In fact, the Syrian President has been for long stating that Islamic fundamentalists are behind the plot to oust him. The IS threat actually bolsters his position in this regard. Again, the US may have to seek Iran's support in its war against the IS, given that the terror organisation is primarily Sunni and is, therefore, distrusted by Tehran. Here too, relations between the US and Iran have been far from cordial, though there has been a small level of thaw in recent months. There is the tantalising possibility, thus, that the threat from the IS could lead to a new, if temporary, alignment of forces otherwise inimical to one another. It is rare for Iran and Saudi Arabia to speak in one voice or be on the same side. This happened to an extent during India's 1971 war with Pakistan, when those two nations appeared to have grouped together in Islamabad's favour, though they did not overtly contribute by way of arms.
India too has a stake in the defeat of the terror outfit. The IS has been expanding its influence in this country through social media and other means, and there have been disturbing reports of Indian Muslims joining the terror group's cause in Iraq and Syria. The IS's thrust could enhance in the coming months. The fight against the IS will be long and hard, as even the US admits. But there is no alternative. like others, India too has to prepare for it. The saving grace for India is that nearly all influential Muslim organisations in the country have unambiguously condemned the IS and its nefarious designs.