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India upbeat about ties with US

C K Arora in Washington

National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra appears upbeat about the future of Indo-US relations, saying there is now an opportunity for India to further develop its ties with the United States.

Talking to reporters in New York last night, he said this opportunity had been thrown up by certain recent events. ''Since last June, we have had one of the most intensive dialogues with the US, the type of which they never had after India's Independence.''

This had led to a measure of understanding between the two countries, which was perhaps not there earlier. ''Added to that is the attitude of the US during the Kargil conflict, which, from our viewpoint, was positive,'' he added.

''This will provide us with an opportunity to further develop our relations with the US,'' he added.

Earlier, Mishra, who is also the principal secretary to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee, had completed his two-day discussions with senior Clinton administration officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, on a variety of issues, the most prominent of which was the ''unconstitutional'' political change-over in Pakistan.

The other issue that came up for discussion was the contentious agenda of the forthcoming conference of the World Trade Organisation. ''On both counts, their discussions have been fruitful,'' Mishra remarked.

On regional issues, he said, India had expressed its security concerns arising out of the coup in Islamabad. ''It is fair to say that the US has a much better understanding of our security concerns as a result of the change-over in Pakistan,'' he added.

When asked to comment on the 'soft' attitude of the Clinton administration towards General Musharraf, he said, ''It will be very impolite on my part to characterise the US attitude towards the change-over in Pakistan.''

He, however, said, ''Obviously, when we present our point of view and concerns with regard to security-related issues, there is a discussion on the attitude of the US to the change-over.''

In reply to a question, Mishra said there was hardly any discussion on the resumption of the Lahore process.

He said he did not tell his US interlocutors to ask General Musharraf to stop cross-border terrorism. The US was aware of India's concerns on this count and ''if it is doing so, we welcome it,'' he added.

On the issue of cross-border terrorism, he said there was no change in the Indian stand. Even when there was a civilian government in Pakistan, India had kept on saying that there was no possibility of a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan, as long as cross-border terrorism continued. ''The situation is the same today,'' he remarked.

He recalled that there had been three military rules in Pakistan earlier and ''we had two wars and during the third (military rule), terrorism was exported to India, first in Punjab, then in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.''

''Obviously, we have to be vigilant in the present circumstances,'' he added.

In reply to a question about the US pressure on India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Mishra said, ''India would not give in to any such pressure. Its stand was to evolve a national consensus on the adherence of the pact and the issue would be discussed threadbare in the coming winter session of Parliament.''

He said there was a passing reference to India's proposed nuclear doctrine during the discussions with the US officials. But there was no discussion on the transfer of dual-use technology.

Referring to the non-resident Indians' demand for dual citizenship, he said it was a difficult issue but the government would do everything possible to ensure their participation in the development of the country.

UNI

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