Chuck Hagel stirs up India-US storm over Afghanistan

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"India has over the years financed problems for Pakistan" in Afghanistan, said Mr Hagel in a 2011 speech at the previously little-known foreign policy seed-bed of Oklahoma University.

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For Mr Hagel's Republican opponents, it was just a few clicks' work to ferret out the speech, get it online via a sympathetic outlet, then picked up 10.5 time zones away.

They must have been pleased at the rapid reaction, with India's embassy in Washington slapping down Mr Hagel's comments as "contrary to the reality". The Pakistani media predictably jumped on the story too.

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India is always sensitive about any questioning of its motives for being in Afghanistan.

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In fact, Delhi has sometimes appeared the reticent one, for example resisting calls from Washington to expand its training of Afghan security forces.

There's another reason, though, why this little episode may be more significant - because it highlights a bigger question over where relations between Delhi and Washington are going.

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The two sides seem mired in misunderstandings and suspicion over everything from arms deals to technology.

And while India shares US concerns about China's rise, it has been wary of becoming a "cat's paw" of American interests.

It was former President George W Bush who got things going, ending decades of often frosty relations between the world's two largest democracies. And many see the end of his time in the White House as the high water mark.

"Republicans are always better for India," says Mr Karnad [Professor at the Centre for Policy Research.]. "They have a much better strategic sense than the Democrats."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21601120

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Hagel was confirmed. He is the Defense Secretary. The Rethuglicans should get used to it.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hagel was confirmed. He is the Defense Secretary. The Rethuglicans should get used to it.

So should India and Israel.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So should India and Israel.

Yes.