ABSTRACT
Different assessments have been made of the success or failure of Gates’ mission. While Newsweek reported that Gates came back alarmed and discouraged, the Stimson Center’s debate highlighted the success of the mission in terms of providing both India and Pakistan with a face-saving excuse to back off. Similarly, a U.S. News and World Report story described the satisfaction of Inder Gujral, the Indian Foreign Minister, with the Bush administration’s fairness.33 Cognizant of Indian sensitivities regarding outside mediation, Gates seems to have been careful in avoiding suggestions that could make the situation difficult for Indian leaders. Perhaps that is why he specifically underlined that Washington did not wish to seek the role of a mediator between India and Pakistan but was merely interested in lowering the prevailing level of tensions. Another factor that seemed to have pleased the Indians was Gates’ favoring a dialog, which was in congruence with the spirit of the Simla Agreement rather than draw attention to UN resolutions or even the spirit of the UN Charter.
