Curbs hinder ties with U.S.: Brajesh Mishra

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, JULY 26. Although India is not ``pleading'' for the lifting of sanctions, the punitive measures now in place are an impediment to the realisation of the full potential of Indo-U.S. relations, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and National Security Adviser, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, has said.

Mr. Mishra, who is in the United States to finalise details for the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, said the sanctions issue was not discussed in his meeting with the National Security Adviser, Mr. Sandy Berger. Mr. Berger, who attended the recent West Asia talks in Camp David, flew down to see Mr. Mishra here on Tuesday.

Besides Mr. Berger's briefing on the Camp David talks, the two officials discussed Non-Proliferation and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the situation between India-Pakistan and economic and scientific components of Mr. Vajpayee's coming visit to the U.S.

Asked to comment on attempts by Pakistan to spread the view that India was intransigent and reluctant to start the dialogue and how New Delhi would respond to this propaganda, Mr. Mishra said India needed no ``certificates'' from anyone and that the onus was on Pakistan. ``We have a point of view which is absolutely clear. India needs no certificates from anyone in regard to its desire for talks with Pakistan. The bus journey to Lahore is a big proof of that... Now that bus got stuck in Kargil. It is for Pakistan to take steps to restore the spirit of Lahore. And that can be done only by ending cross-border terrorism. Until that happens there cannot be meaningful talks between India and Pakistan.''

The basic thrust of Mr. Vajpayee's agenda would be on the talks with the President, Mr. Bill Clinton, and on seeing how the bilateral relations could take off. The two leaders would explore ways of giving a concrete shape to the framework already agreed upon. The agenda would include economic, scientific and political issues. While topics related to India and Pakistan would be discussed, they would not dominate the Prime Minister's agenda.

Mr. Mishra, asked whether China's role in South Asia especially as it pertained to its missile/nuclear relationship with Pakistan was discussed with Mr. Berger, said the U.S. was ``fully aware'' of India's concerns.

During his stay in Washington, Mr. Mishra met several senior officials of the Clinton administration and law makers on Capitol Hill including the President's Assistant for Economic Affairs, Mr. Gene Sperling; and the Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr. Thomas Pickering.

On Capitol Hill, there were meetings with Mr. Porter Goss, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, with members of the House International Relations Committee, the India Caucus and the Chairman of the Senate Sub Committee on the Near East and South Asia, Mr. Sam Brownback.

Mr. Mishra also met some key foreign policy advisers of the Texas Governor, Mr. George Bush, presumptive Republican nominee for the Presidential elections of November 7. In San Fransisco, Mr. Mishra held a meeting with Ms. Condoleeza Rice, top foreign policy aide to Mr. Bush and generally seen as the National Security Adviser in a Bush administration.

Ms. Rice was ``fully conscious of the benefits of Indo-U.S. cooperation for both countries'', said Mr. Mishra.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Jethmalani insists on making statement today
Next     : Attempt to enforce dress code in university