---------------------------------------------------------- What's On In Goa: * Oct 15: Magic in town... Illusion India show, Panjim then Vasco * Oct 16-17: Ornithology workshop, Bondla southernbirdwing.com * Oct 16-27: Vipasana meditation, Alto Porvorim * Oct 24: Antonio Pereira Puraskar (Award) ceremony, Porvorim ----------------------------------------------------------
Deepening U.S. Engagement in South Asia Christina B. Rocca, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Remarks to the American Enterprise Institute Strategic Relationship with India As the President’s National Security Strategy makes clear, we view India as a major emerging democratic power in the world. We have made enormous strides in the past year toward building a broad-based, strategic relationship with India, fulfilling one of the President’s top priorities. I was in India two weeks ago to launch our regional dialogue—-a set of talks designed to make transparent to the Indians our multi-varied activities in the region and to highlight the commonality of interests that we share. They highlighted our mutual interests in supporting democratic development, political stability, and economic growth and reform. These talks also will allow us to increase mutual understanding of regional developments, to cooperate more closely when our interests converge, and to work through any policy differences more smoothly. We also are breaking new ground by expanding military cooperation with India in the areas of technology, research and development, sales and licensing and peacekeeping. Our joint exercises, including one in which U.S. troops have gone to India and one in which Indian forces have come to the U.S., are unprecedented. Counterterrorism cooperation also is maturing rapidly, including intelligence sharing, training, finance and anti-money laundering cooperation, improving border security, fighting cyber-terrorism, and increasing mutual legal assistance. Again, we have a common interest in tracking down and eliminating terrorist groups that view the entire world as their area of operation, and our cooperation is growing daily. In the area of business and commerce, we have an on-going economic dialogue to facilitate private sector investment and cooperation. We hope to see this dialogue expand as there is enormous untapped potential for commerce between our two large and dynamic economies. Greater cooperation in knowledge-based industries—-like information technology, telecommunications, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals—-can accelerate development and poverty alleviation in India. The dialogue also will be important in offering a forum to discuss regional and global economic issues like Afghan reconstruction, energy security, the global trading system and the new trade round, and development assistance flows. It is a mark of the maturity of our partnership that we can now engage on other contentious issues rather than let our relationship be defined by them. On non-proliferation, for example, we have an active exchange of views with the Indians. Washington and New Delhi share the common goal of a strategically stable Asia and the prevention of the further spread of weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, the U.S. has encouraged India to bring its export control laws and practices in line with international standards and offered various forms of assistance to help India continue on this path. Greatest Challenge: Indo-Pakistani Tensions The most difficult task the U.S. faces in the region, though, is that of defusing Indo-Pakistani tensions, which pose the greatest obstacle to overall progress in South Asia. Pakistanis and Indians alike will not be able to reap the benefits of regional economic development and cooperation unless they build a more stable relationship. On-going conflict between India and Pakistan not only risks dangerous escalation, it also limits the ability of both countries to seize opportunities to better the lives of their own people. These tensions almost reached the breaking point this past spring. The world feared the possibility of another Indo-Pakistani war--one that, given their demonstrated nuclear capabilities, could have long-lasting and devastating consequences for the entire region. With the assistance of the U.S., UK, and others, India and Pakistan barely averted war at that time, but the threat has not disappeared. We remain deeply concerned about the continued deployment of forces along their shared border and Line of Control, repeated terrorist incidents, and the lack of communication between the two hostile neighbors. For that reason, we continue to work with both sides to find mutually acceptable ways to start de-escalating. President Musharraf has repeatedly committed to ending permanently support for infiltration from his country. Pakistan needs to hold to this pledge in order to begin resolving the immediate crisis and to remove more fundamental differences with India. We look to Islamabad to follow through on this commitment in a concerted and proactive manner. As the de-escalation process begins, we will look for specific steps aimed at addressing the problems in Kashmir. We welcome the successful conclusion of elections in Kashmir on Tuesday. PM Vajpayee's personal commitment to making them transparent and open was critical to this process. We abhor and condemn the violence during the elections that was aimed at disrupting the democratic process and intimidating the Kashmiri people. And we commend the courage of the candidates and voters who chose to participate despite the violence and intimidation. We also welcome the assurances that reports of irregularities, including alleged coercion by the security forces, will be fully investigated by the Indian authorities. It is important that these investigations are followed through. We hope these elections will be the first step in a broader process that will help bring peace to the region. The Kashmiri people have shown they want to pursue the path of peace, and now it is time for India and Pakistan to do their part to resume diplomatic dialogue at the earliest possible opportunity. This dialogue will have to address all the issues that divide them, including Kashmir. A lasting settlement, which reflects the views of the Kashmiri people, can only be achieved through dialogue. We also welcome the Indian government's commitment to begin a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We hope this dialogue will address issues, such as governance, human rights, and economic development. The United States envisions a solution to the conflict that is peaceful and honorable for all sides, allowing Kashmiris, who have suffered the most, to live their daily lives in security, dignity, and prosperity. Only a productive and sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan will prevent future crises and finally bring peace to the region. The international community cannot afford to sit back and wait for the next crisis to erupt. The stakes are too high. And that is why we are committed to staying engaged, in the months and years ahead, helping both parties resolve their differences. So, as you can see--despite the progress in South Asia since September 11, 2001—-we still have our work cut out for us over the coming years. And with that, I will conclude my remarks. I am happy to take any questions you may have. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com ======================================================================== To view GoaNet's archives http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net ======================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Don't want so many e-mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead!
