India, U.S. may devise strategy against terrorism

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 7. Terrorism will be the topic of discussion here today and tomorrow between senior officials of the Clinton administration and India. On a broad scale there is determination by the United States and India to join forces and fight the scourge with the two sides apparently working on details on how this could be effectively done regionally and on a global fashion. Terrorism or counter- terrorism is expected to be high during the U.S.President, Mr.Bill Clinton's visit to India next month.

The meeting between senior officials of the two countries is said to be unprecedented in the sense that different branches of the governments are interacting on a comprehensive and serious basis for the first time. This, the argument here goes, could lead to greater cooperation on the counter-terrorism front by way of training and `sharing of experience' including perhaps on the intelligence front.

On Tuesday the talks between India and the United States take on a different level. India's Foreign Secretary, Mr.Lalit Mansingh will be holding formal consultations with very senior members of the Clinton administration and Cabinet. India's Foreign Secretary will be meeting the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr.Thomas Pickering;the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Strobe Talbott, will be hosting a lunch.

Mr.Lalit Mansingh will also be having a meeting with the President's National Security Adviser, Mr. Sandy Berger. Although the Indian Foreign Secretary's visit has been passed off as `normal Foreign Office consultations', it assumes special significance in the light of President Bill Clinton's visit to India. The last time there had been official Foreign Office-to Foreign Office consultations was just prior to the nuclear tests of May 1998.

In a different context, terrorism is high on the agenda between the United States and Pakistan as well. In the immediate context the administration has asked for meaningful steps to be taken by Islamabad on terrorism, democracy and non- proliferation if Mr. Clinton is to include Pakistan in his South Asia programme. The Clinton administration wants official Islamabad to rein in the extremist groups operating in the area as also putting a squeeze on the Taliban to deliver Osama bin Laden.

For the record the administration here has not formally responded to the distinctions the top Pakistani General has been making in the last few days on terrorism and `jehad'. Having said this it also has to be pointed out that while Washington shares New Delhi's concerns on the terrorism front on a broad level,it has not completely signed on to the BJP agenda on this, especially as it pertained to the role of Pakistan.

For instance the Clinton administration has been very careful in how it has characterised the brutal hijacking of the Indian Airlines Flight 814 from Kathmandu and the sordid drama that was played out for about a week. While Washington may have identified groups such as the Harkat which has definite pro- Pakistan leanings and backing as having had a role in the hijacking, the Clinton administration has made it very clear that there was no direct evidence of the hand of official Pakistan in the incident.

Terrorism and the steps Gen. Musharraf is willing to take will be a factor in deciding whether Mr.Clinton drops by Pakistan during his South Asia trip. But what is being emphasised in many quarters is that the United States may not wish to jeopardise its longer term interests in the region by skipping Pakistan. In fact the Newsweek magazine, quoting official sources,is making the point that Mr. Clinton may visit Pakistan irrespective of whether Islamabad meets American concerns on terrorism fearing that a `snub' might add to the region's instability. This is precisely what many in Pakistan - generals, politicians, and bureaucrats - have been saying, and for a long time.

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Section  : International
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