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U.S. decision will not affect ties with India: Fernandes

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 21. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, today chose to dismiss the issue of the U.S. not taking India into confidence on the "major non-NATO ally" status accorded to Pakistan. "Strategic partnership and friendship do not revolve around one issue," he said.

Mr. Fernandes, who arrived in Bangalore en route to Salem to address a rally of the Dalit Panthers, told presspersons that this development would in no way affect India's ties with the U.S. because India and the U.S. were forging partnerships on a different foundation.

"The Government has already reacted; I can't say anything beyond that," he said when asked about India's stand on the issue.

The Indian Government had expressed disappointment on Saturday that the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, had not mentioned America's decision to designate Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA) during his visit to New Delhi last week. Gen. Powell, who was on a tour of the South Asian region, after his visit to New Delhi, went to Pakistan, where he made the announcement.

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