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March 18, 2000

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Steer clear of controversy, say foreign policy experts

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Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The differences between India and the United States on issues like Kashmir and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty are only too well known. So New Delhi's primary agenda during President Bill Clinton's visit beginning tomorrow should be to lay a foundation whereby neither country regards the other as an adversary on matters on which they do not agree, according to US-watchers and foreign policy analysts.

"For many years now, the US position on CTBT and Kashmir has been known. President Clinton recently said India could not be regarded as a nuclear-weapons state. We rejected it saying we did not share Washington's perception and its repeated observation that Kashmir is a nuclear flashpoint. Since these things are well known, we should try and lay a foundation where New Delhi and Washington cease to regard each other with suspicion. If we are able to do that, it will be a significant achievement," said Chintamani Mahapatra, associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies.

Pointing to US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott's recent assertion that India would never give up its nuclear option, Mahapatra contended that the Clinton administration is "fully aware of this fact". But in pursuance of its non-proliferation objectives, including the CTBT, Washington periodically articulates its foreign policy in South Asia "which India knows and has come out with a relevant response -- that it does not share the US view," Mahapatra pointed out.

On March 14, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in a tough speech, asserted that India should curb its nuclear weapons and missile programmes and export of technology if it wishes to improve ties with the US. "Significant progress in this area is necessary before India and the US can realise the vast potential of our relationship," Albright said.

New Delhi reacted immediately, saying it would keep its nuclear option open according to its security concerns and that it did not share the US view.

Former Indian ambassador Siddhartha Shankar Ray agreed that while all efforts should be made to "enrich and enhance" Indo-US relations, the leaderships of the two countries should avoid treading on each other's toes on issues on which they have not been able to agree. Instead, they should try to explore vistas, particularly economic, through which both can gain.

"During my stint as ambassador in Washington, I met a large number of senators and congressmen who had expressed great interest in what our two countries could offer each other. These leaders spoke glowingly of India's growing stature as a hot economy that could be beneficial to both New Delhi and Washington," Ray pointed out.

He was optimistic that despite the "irritants", New Delhi and Washington would be able to "break new ground" in economic areas, which would be regarded with envy by even developed countries.

Another foreign policy analyst, Commander Uday Bhaskar, maintained that "the conceptual challenge for us during President Clinton's visit is to ensure that the areas of mutual disagreements do not go out of hand".

Referring to New Delhi and Washington's known positions on nuclear and missile issues, he underlined that "they may be stumbling blocks, but should not prevent the enhancement of India-US economic relations". Instead of getting bogged down on these issues, Commander Bhaskar said the economic dimension between the two countries should be discussed and encouraged in areas like information technology and infrastructure.

From the Indian government's point of view, cross-border terrorism, the Pakistani role in Kashmir, and the Beijing-Islamabad nuclear connection are three items that will be raised during Clinton's visit.

According to Pakistan-watcher Sreedhar of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, the Indian leadership has already responded to the American agenda as articulated by the president himself and his secretary of state. Now it is the Indian leadership's turn to raise its issues of concern, which it will be conveying to the presidential entourage.

Cross-border terrorism, particularly in Kashmir, tops the Indian agenda, according to Sreedhar. He pointed out that but for Pakistan aiding and abetting the militants in Kashmir, a solution to the problem in the state would have been found long ago.

"I have confirmed information that the Indian leadership will raise this issue, giving documentary proof of Pakistan's role in Kashmir and its instigating and sustaining the militant activity there," he said.

A senior official of the external affairs ministry said the Beijing-Islamabad nuclear and missile nexus would come up for discussion. This is because of China's refusal to admit its role in helping the Pakistanis in these areas while asking India to roll back its programmes.

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