India, U.S. to push for broader ties

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, JULY 23. India and the United States today discussed in detail the recent Indo-Pak. summit at Agra and reiterated their commitment to push forward their relationship across a broad front.

During talks with the visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Ms. Christina Rocca, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, said India would continue to persist with its dialogue with Pakistan. According to highly-placed sources in the Government, the External Affairs Minister pointed out that after the Agra summit, the ball was in Pakistan's court to create the right atmosphere which would encourage a dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad in the future. Pakistan, after the Lahore declaration was responsible for the Kargil and Kandahar crises, he said, adding that the Agra summit had now been followed by the Amarnath blasts. India, however would not be deterred by these ``episodic events'' in pursing the peace process with Pakistan, he observed.

Ms. Rocca, on her part, reiterated that the Bush administration had decided to develop a ``stand-alone'' relationship with India which was de-linked from its ties with Islamabad. She specifically noted that the U.S. was not pursuing a ``hyphenated- relationship'' in South Asia. Washington, she added, was keen on building its ties with India within the broad framework envisioned by the U.S. President, Mr. George Bush. Her visit was therefore, a part of a larger U.S. effort to accelerate the momentum which had already been imparted to the relationship after the flurry of recent high level exchanges.

Mr. Jaswant Singh and the National Security Adviser, Mr. Brajesh Mishra had already visited Washington. The Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage, and the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Henry H. Shelton, had also concluded successful visits to India.

Ms. Rocca, during her meeting with Mr. Singh, clarified that there was no change in the U.S. stance on Kashmir. Washington fully supported Indo-Pak. talks over Kashmir and was ready for mediation only it the two sides desired. Ruling out a U.S. role, India reiterated its unflinching commitment to bilateralism for improving its relations with Pakistan.

Both sides also discussed the situation in the region, terrorism, developments in Afghanistan and its larger implications to stability.

On the economic side, Ms. Rocca discussed the possibility of expanding U.S. investments in India, especially in the power sector. She discussed with the Power Secretary, Mr. A.K. Basu, the controversy surrounding the Dabhol power project in Maharashtra. The Enron project came up for discussion briefly even during Ms. Rocca's meeting with the Finance Secretary, Mr. Ajit Kumar, this morning.

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Section  : National
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