A book is never undertaken alone and this one is no exception. Many people
have contributed one way or another to the outcome, though its flaws and
weaknesses remain entirely mine. I would first like to express my deepest
gratitude to the Smith Richardson Foundation, in particular to Allan Song, who
so generously supported this project. My gratitude also goes to my colleagues
from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC, in
particular Ashley Tellis and George Perkovich, who have helped the project
mature and gradually take shape. Also at Carnegie, Reece Trevor and Shamshak
Khosla, junior fellows, and Kathleen Higg and Keigh Hammond contributed to
the research. Thanks also to the many interviewees, officials, think tankers and
others who, piece by piece, have helped me frame the larger picture of India’s
policy in Asia, which is the focus of this book. Thanks to Bridget Harrington
Rector who edited this text and made it readable. Last, but not least, thanks to
the editor, Michael Dwyer, for having agreed to publish this volume