U.S. links ties with India to NPT

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, APRIL 28. The U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr. Thomas Pickering, has said that the multi- dimensional potential in the U.S.-India relationship cannot come about unless the two countries made further progress on the issue of non-proliferation.

Speaking at the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University here on Thursday, Mr. Pickering, who was introduced by Ms. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Director of the South Asia Institute at the university, said: ``No issue is more important to American security than our efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons and their means of delivery.

``Even as we seek to build a new and qualitatively closer relationship with India, that relationship cannot realise its full potential without further progress on non-proliferation. We also cannot and will not be able to cooperate on military issues until there is substantial progress on non-proliferation. We face similar problems in our relations with Pakistan,'' Mr. Pickering observed.

Mr. Pickering, who will be visiting South Asia next month to discuss among other things, `Asian security', argued that the near-term American objectives with India were simple: early signature on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; strengthened export controls; cooperation in the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, and pending its conclusion, a moratorium on production; restraint in the development of missiles; and prudence in shaping defence postures.

The senior Clinton administration said that progress on export control has been registered and that continuing convergence on this and other non-proliferation items will be high on the U.S. agenda with India.

Earlier, commenting on Indo-Pak relations, Mr. Pickering sought to debunk the idea circulating in Pakistan - that if only events were allowed to spiral in Kashmir towards an all-out conflict with India, the U.S would be compelled to mediate on more favourable terms. This, the official maintained, had been rejected by the President, Mr. Bill Clinton, when he was on a short stopover in Pakistan.

But the message on tensions was both to India and Pakistan. ``Publicly and privately the President urged mutual restraint by the parties, respect for the Line of Control, rejection of violence, and renewal of dialogue. The tragic cycle of violence continues to claim precious lives in Kashmir,'' Mr. Pickering observed.

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