India, U.S. for 'new strategic framework dialogue'

By P. S. Suryanarayana

NEW YORK, NOV. 10. The U.S. and India have agreed to establish a ``new strategic framework dialogue'', expand cooperation in the scientific sector by suitably extending it to space-related engagement and to resume links in the sphere of civilian nuclear safety. An unspecified ``joint cyber-terrorism initiative'' has also been agreed upon, raising visions of a functional network of bilateral strategic linkages. There is no dramatic flourish, though, of any masterly move by either side that could have given the summit a mystique of its own.

The outlines of the framework have not been spelt out, but the other generic issues have been identified as follows: the enhancement of consultations on the U.S. missile defence plans, the expansion of cooperation in regard to export controls, apparently with reference to India, and the discussions on stimulating bilateral high technology commerce.

Of more immediate relevance to the present volatile international situation is the decision of the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, and the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to hold consultations on Afghanistan's future. Though the specifics of such consultations have not been spelt out, it is apparent that the objective is to create a terror-free zone in Afghanistan that lies within India's geostrategic neighbourhood.

A joint statement, issued on ``the occasion of the official working visit'' to the U.S. by Mr. Vajpayee, indicated that Mr. Bush expressed support for India's draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. ``As the leaders of the two largest multi-cultural democracies,'' Mr. Bush and Mr. Vajpayee ``emphasised that those who equate terrorism with any religion are as wrong as those who invoke its name to commit, support or justify terrorist acts.'' This formulation is the farthest that the two could agree upon in specific terms in regard to India's sense of unease over Pakistan's insistence that the ``freedom struggle'' in Kashmir should not be treated as terrorism.

The two leaders, who held their first summit at the Oval Office in the White House on Friday, agreed that ``terrorism threatens not only the security of India and the United States but also (their) efforts to build freedom, democracy and international security and stability around the world.'' As for some dissonant voices within the emerging international coalition against terror, such as Mr. Vajpayee's own reported views on the course of the current U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Mr. Bush had clarified, immediately after the summit, that he welcomed ``candid'' discussions such as those with the Prime Minister. However, the two leaders have not been stymied by the recent efforts by India to express alternative viewpoints on international strategic and terrorism issues in conjunction with Russia.

On the India-U.S. bilateral front, Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Bush affirmed their ``commitment to complete the process of qualitatively transforming India-U.S. relations in pursuit of their many common goals in Asia and beyond.'' The imperative of enhancing bilateral ties across a matrix of areas, including commerce and economic interactions, has also been variously underlined. If Mr. Bush had sought to gently nudge or arm-twist Mr. Vajpayee on issues concerning the World Trade Organisation, it has not been reflected in their post-summit statement.

On defence-related cooperation, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, pooh-poohed non-official suggestions about a U.S.-India military ``alliance'' being on the cards. According to the official joint statement, Mr. Bush and Mr. Vajpayee ``noted that India's interest in purchasing arms from the United States would be discussed at the Defence Policy Group meetings in December 2001.''

A ``fact sheet'' on the outcome of the Bush-Vajpayee summit notes that the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, has been invited to visit Washington in the context of counter- terrorism cooperation. The U.S. State Department Coordinators for Afghanistan will also visit Delhi.

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