Jaswant Singh in U.S. for high-level talks

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, APRIL 6. The Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Jaswant Singh, arrived here last evening for the start of the first high- level contacts between the United States and India under the new Republican administration.

Mr. Singh has come here at a time when there is a keen interest in Washington to further the established dialogue with the Bush administration saying that it is for maintaining, if not furthering, the momentum in the bilateral relationship.

Mr. Singh's official itinerary includes a meeting in the morning with the National Security Advisor, Ms. Condoleeza Rice followed by a visit to the State Department for meeting the Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, who hosted lunch.

Mr. Singh's afternoon engagements at the Pentagon include a review of a guard of honour and substantive discussions with the Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld. Mr. Singh leaves Washington tomorrow morning.

Administration officials have been saying that they are `looking forward' to the visit of Mr. Singh which is seen as an opportunity to exchange ideas at a broad and general level on a range of subjects. The first interaction between India and Bush administration is not expected to focus on any one issue even if such areas as sanctions come up during the discussions, it is maintained.

The administration is in the process of reviewing the entire gamut of sanctions; and there is a widespread feeling on Capitol Hill among lawmakers that the punitive measures against India ought to be lifted. In fact as many as 47 lawmakers in the House of Representatives wrote to the President, Mr. George Bush, earlier this week seeking the removal of sanctions arguing, among other things, that these have not furthered American interests.

Mr. Singh's delegation includes the Joint Secretary for the Americas, Mr. Jayant Prasad; the Joint Secretary for Disarmament, Mr.Sheelkant Sharma; the Vice-Admiral, Mr. Madan Jit Singh; the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. S. Rajkumar, and the spokesman of the External Affairs Department, Mr. Raminder Singh Jassal.

In his talks here Mr. Singh will be accompanied by the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Lalit Mansingh, and the Deputy Chief of the Mission, Mr. Alok Prasad.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : The Pak. 'Tehelka' tapes
Next     : India not serious about talks: Pak.