India welcomes Bush plan for cuts in n-arsenal

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, MAY 2. In an unprecedented convergence of views with the United States, India today welcomed the plans for the unilateral reduction of American nuclear forces announced by the President, Mr. George Bush, last night.

The Indian Foreign Office, in a statement issued this evening, hailed Mr. Bush's proposals for deep cuts in nuclear arsenals as well as in building missile defences, as ``a significant and far- reaching'' effort to move away from the ``adversarial legacy of the Cold War''.

This is probably the first time in decades that India has extended such support to the U.S. on any global nuclear issue. While much of the world was cautious in its response to Mr. Bush's controversial proposals on building a system of national missile defences, India was effusive in its welcome.

The positive Indian response appears to have been clinched by the prospect of large nuclear reductions built into the Bush initiative. Equally important is the expectation of international cooperation in developing future defensive technologies.

India hopes the reduced reliance on offensive nuclear forces promised by Mr. Bush would eventually lead the world towards a ``multilateral compact that results in an elimination of all nuclear weapons globally''.

The Foreign Office also pointed to the ``strategic and technological inevitability'' of a shift from the present world of mutual assured destruction to ``a cooperative, defensive transition'' underpinned by smaller nuclear arsenals maintained in a reduced state of readiness.

Rice calls Jaswant

If India's enthusiastic support to the U.S. is very rare, so is the decision by the Bush administration to reach out to India and seek its support on NMD. As part of a conscious effort to consult ``friends and allies'' on the controversial project, the U.S. National Security Adviser, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, called the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, on phone this afternoon.

Asserting that the U.S. looked upon India as a friend and partner, Ms. Rice informed Mr. Singh of Mr. Bush's decision to send a personal emissary to engage India on national missile defence.

The personal envoy will be Mr. Richard Armitage, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, who will arrive here next week to brief the Government on the Bush proposals. The U.S. objective is to consult and discuss with India ``a new framework for security and stability that reflects the world of today'', the Foreign Office said.

Mr. Armitage is also travelling to other Asian nations, including Japan, South Korea and Australia. Mr. Bush is also sending two other envoys - the Deputy Defence Secretary, Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, and the Deputy Chief of National Security Council, Mr. Stephen Hadley - to various international capitals.

While India and the U.S. draw closer on nuclear and missile defence, the Government will also be receiving the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Igor Ivanov, later this week. And NMD is expected to be high on Mr. Ivanov's agenda as well.

Russia has been among the foremost critics of Mr. Bush's plans to build missile defences. Moscow has castigated Washington's plans to junk past arms control treaties. At least until now.

Bid to dispel Russian fears

In his speech on Tuesday, Mr. Bush made a special effort to soften the Russians by dispelling the impression that the U.S. wanted to gain unilateral advantage through missile defences.

Before his speech, Mr. Bush spoke with the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin. The U.S. also appears to have suggested a probable joint development of defensive technologies with Russia.

India is pleased that Russia and America might be moving away from a confrontation on missile defences towards a constructive dialogue. The Government today noted ``with appreciation the U.S. resolve to seek dialogue, consultation and cooperation with the countries concerned''.

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