U.S. debunks notion of pro-India tilt

By Sridar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, APRIL 5. To those who believe that the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, signed on to the BJP-led Government's political and security agenda or that there is some kind of ``tilt'' in Washington's policies towards India and away from Pakistan in the aftermath of his visit, the Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright, has sought to put things in perspective.

In an Op-Ed piece in Diario las Americas of Miami, Ms. Albright - discussing Mr. Clinton's visit to South Asia - has argued that the President is particularly concerned about resolving the confrontation between India and Pakistan and the imperative of halting the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

``He delivered a strong message in this regard in both capitals. He called for both governments to respect the Line of Control that divides Kashmir, exercise restraint with respect to violence and to resume their dialogue. In addition, the President stressed that the people of Kashmir must have a way to have their concerns and grievances addressed''.

The Secretary of State, who was part of the Presidential delegation, has stressed that India and Pakistan returning to dialogue is particularly important now as tensions have risen to dangerous levels since last spring - Kargil, the October coup in Pakistan and the December hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight out of Kathmandu. ``With restraint on both sides, a new beginning could be made on the talks begun last February between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers'', Ms. Albright has said.

The impression in New Delhi in some quarters even during Mr. Clinton visit was that the President had veered round to India's line of thinking on some critical issues such as the violence in Kashmir and the linkages for a resumption of talks between India and Pakistan.

But senior Clinton administration officials have been careful. Calling for an end to violence in Kashmir and for the resumption of talks, Washington has not pointed an accusing finger at Pakistan. Further the notion of a ``tilt'' towards India has been brushed aside as being obsolete. The belief that Washington is somehow walking away from Pakistan just because Mr. Clinton delivered a strong message - or a ``stronger'' message - in Islamabad is being debunked as well.

Limits on cooperation

Ms. Albright has reiterated that there were constraints in setting a course for a ``qualitatively different and better'' relationship with India. ``The limits on our ability to cooperate with India and Pakistan are a matter of U.S. law as well as our international obligations. Achieving the level of cooperation with India that we both desire will depend on progress made toward non- proliferation''.

Ms. Albright, who is expected to travel again to India in June or July following up on the Presidential visit, has said the administration's continuing dialogue with India and Pakistan on security and non-proliferation issues is part of the U.S. global efforts. ``We will continue to discuss how to pursue security requirements without contributing to a costly and destabilising nuclear missile and arms race''.

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