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http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2002091803971100.htm The Hindu September 18, 2002 Rethink on reliance on U.S.? By Amit Baruah -India also seems to be keeping its options open as far as long-term foreign policy is concerned. By consenting to and participating in the first-ever trilateral meeting between Indian, Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers, New Delhi has sent a subtle message that all policy strings are not tied to the U.S. - ZURICH SEPT. 17. As the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and his entourage savoured the sights of Zurich, the Swiss city, there was a moment to stop and ponder on his just-completed visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mr. Vajpayee, whose meeting with the United States President, George W. Bush, was his most important bilateral interaction during his six-day visit, seemed pleased with the meeting but did speak about the delays in implementing decisions on bilateral cooperation between the two countries. It is also clear that India has not relented on Iraq; the Prime Minister was quite clear that New Delhi was not about to issue a carte blanche to the U.S. on Iraq. The unflinching support extended to the U.S. plans for a national missile defence system was significantly missing this time round. While India rightly holds that Indo-U.S. relations should not be held hostage to ties with Pakistan, there is little doubt that the growing "strategic cooperation'' between the U.S. and Pakistan has impacted the ascending curve of Washington's relationship with New Delhi. The U.S. may make the right noises about delivering a "hard message" to Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism but American and Pakistani cooperation against the Al-Qaeda seems to be growing by the day. The latest arrests in Karachi only go to confirm this trend. Such a trend cannot please India which believes that Islamabad is a source of terrorism and the international community cannot wink at what it does in Jammu and Kashmir while cooperating against the Al-Qaeda in Pakistan. India also seems to be keeping its options open as far as long-term foreign policy is concerned. By consenting to and participating in the first-ever trilateral meeting between Indian, Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers, New Delhi has sent a subtle message that all policy strings are not tied to the U.S. Here, it needs to be emphasised that there is no effort to antagonise anyone, but show that there are other kinds of cooperation that New Delhi would like to explore. There has been little comment from Indian officials on the meeting; a low-key approach is obvious. At the General Assembly itself, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, queered the pitch for Mr. Vajpayee when he launched a full-scale attack on the BJP for the carnage in Gujarat on September 12. The next day Mr. Vajpayee responded in kind. Most of his speech to the Assembly was devoted to countering the points made by Gen. Musharraf and scoring some of his own. At his press conference in New York on Saturday evening, the Prime Minister correctly said the General did not need any "provocation'' to attack India. But, the fact remains that the Prime Minister and his party have provided "live ammunition'' to the General to use against India on international fora. Gujarat is an issue which the General can use against India in future as well � he could just point to reports in the Indian press about the carnage that went on in the State. There is, it would appear, a growing need to punish the guilty and show to the world that the Government's words are backed up with action. As far as India-Pakistan bilateral relations are concerned, the two countries remain poles apart on the question of resuming the dialogue. Mr. Vajpayee said at a public meeting last Friday that the General had said many false things at the General Assembly � the post-Agra sense of disappointment with the Pakistani ruler continues to operate. Informed sources said Mr. Vajpayee had little faith in the General and, hence, the possibility of forward movement between the two countries appeared bleak. Overall, it is clear that the Pakistan factor has prompted a re-think on India's sole reliance on the U.S. as far as dealing with the issue of cross-border terrorism is concerned. India seems to have exhausted this track as far as dealing with cross-border terrorism. While it must stick to putting diplomatic pressure on Islamabad, New Delhi must be seeing the renewed confidence with which Gen. Musharraf walks on the international stage. With the bilateral path with Pakistan blocked by contrasting positions, and the international community unable to break the logjam, the stalemate in South Asia can only continue. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
