Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the three key issues discussed during the strategic dialogue were reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that recognised India's central role in global politics, counter-terrorism cooperation and the need for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, and defence modernisation, including relaxation of export controls for sensitive high-tech items of trade.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Brookings Institution on ‘India and the United States: A Strategic Partnership,' Ms. Rao said the three driving factors behind what President Obama had described as an “unprecedented partnership” were shared values, growing economic and people-to-people contacts, and convergence on major global issues such as terrorism, and energy and food security.

On possible future discussions regarding reform within the United Nations, Ms. Rao said: “The question of reform of the UNSC and the expansion of its membership is an important item on the agenda of our dialogue as we seek U.S. support for India's case for permanent membership of the Security Council.”

Describing India's vision of enhanced South Asian cooperation, Ms. Rao noted: “That vision is, however, being challenged by violent extremism and terrorism which originates in our region and finds sustenance and sanctuary there.” She added that the recent failed terrorist attempt in Times Square, New York, had again revealed the global reach of terrorist organisations, whether Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

Touching upon the Afghanistan link to terror, Ms. Rao said India was “supportive of the U.S. efforts to fight terrorism in Afghanistan” and help with restoring stability there. She noted that Indian assistance amounting to over $1.3 billion had helped develop vital civil infrastructure, build human resources and capacities in the areas of health, education, agriculture and rural development among others.

Ms. Rao reiterated the comments of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna during the dialogue, saying that India stood by its development partnership with Afghanistan “despite repeated terrorist attacks on the Indian mission and our brave men and women who are working there to help transform the lives of ordinary Afghan citizens.”

In her speech, Ms. Rao also emphasised that an important element with regard to ongoing U.S.-India partnerships in defence modernisation would be “progress on the easing of U.S. export control restrictions as they apply to India.”

She argued that this would not only be a logical outcome of the civil nuclear initiative, but would also be a catalyst for promoting trading and cooperation in high-technology, defence and the space sectors. “It would also be consonant with the nature of the strategic partnership that exists between us and the growing mutual trust and confidence that is an important driver in our relations today,” she added.

Labels: Afghan terror link, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Nirupama Rao, S.M. Krishna, Strategic Dialogue

From The Hindu

At the end of the first round of strategic dialogue between India and the United States here, the two countries significantly expanded the breadth of their collaboration across a range of areas. These include counter-terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, United Nations Security Council reform, trade and investment, science and technology, climate change mitigation, energy and food security, education, agriculture, healthcare and empowerment of women.

In a rare symbolic gesture designed to underscore the importance of the U.S.' relationship with India, President Barack Obama made a brief visit to the State Department during a reception for select officials and the media. He announced that his much anticipated visit to India would come in “early November.”

The dialogue, led by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saw both sides pledging to “continue to consult each other closely on regional and global developments and remain sensitive to each other's interests,” given their role as strategic partners.

Reiterating Under Secretary William Burns' statements at a recent event, Ms. Clinton said after the conclusion of the discussions that the U.S. considered India an important part of any future reform plans for the Security Council, even if there was no consensus yet in the multilateral context.

Both Indian officials and their U.S. counterparts came out with strong comments on the need to tackle terror attacks. In his opening remarks before the plenary session, Mr. Krishna said: “Though the epicentre of this threat lies in India's neighbourhood, it reaches far and wide all across the world as we have seen time and again, and most recently a few weeks back in the Times Square.”

He also noted that given that the groups preaching “the ideology of hatred and violence are increasingly coalescing, sharing resources and operating as one,” it was incumbent upon both countries to focus their efforts “laser-like” on every one of them.

Headley issue

In the course of the strategic dialogue, Mr. Krishna said India was assured of access to David Headley. India's Ambassador to the U.S. Meera Shankar added that the Indian delegation was in touch with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the “entire process” after which the assurances were made.

President Obama also emphasised the transnational nature of terror threats. He said tackling these threats would require “making progress for the Afghan people and preventing terrorism, whether it's in Manhattan or in Mumbai.” It would include securing vulnerable nuclear materials, a goal that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had furthered by committing India to building a new centre of excellence for nuclear energy and security.

Mr. Obama again touched upon the high priority his administration accorded to the U.S.-India relationship. Pointing to Dr. Singh's visit last November, he said: “It was a state visit that demonstrated that our relations with India are at the highest of priorities for my administration, and for me personally as President of the United States.” He believed that India was a “leader in Asia and around the world. It's a rising power and a responsible global power.”

Mr. Obama said his administration's new National Security Strategy, released last week, made the importance of India “absolutely clear.” “A fundamental pillar of America's comprehensive engagement with the world involves deepening our cooperation with the 21st century centres of influence — and that includes India,” he said.

Labels: Barack Obama, counter-terrorism, disarmament, Hillary Clinton, non-proliferation, S.M. Krishna, Strategic Dialogue

From The Hindu

India and the United States concluded their Strategic Dialogue here on Thursday evening, issuing a joint statement that indicated a significant increase in the breadth of collaborative initiatives between the two countries.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna led the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue, at which they committed to sustain and deepen their cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, trade and investment, science and technology, infrastructure investment, environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, energy security, education, agriculture, food security, healthcare and the empowerment of women.

To a question from The Hindu on whether the Strategic Dialogue represented more continuity or change, Ms. Clinton said it represented both. She argued that while there was “continuity that was evidenced by my husband’s efforts to reach out to India, evidenced by President Bush’s continuing efforts, and … the civilian nuclear deal, [we have] now come to a point where we wish to… broaden the base of that relationship”.

She added, “This is an affair of the heart, not just of the head,” noting that the relationship “between our peoples is rooted in common values, shared aspirations”, even if there were different historical experiences and cultural perspectives. She said that was why the relationship stood the test of time despite the vicissitudes that come between any two great countries.

Regional, global developments

In a joint statement following the conclusion of the Dialogue they pledged that they would continue to consult each other closely on regional and global developments, and “remain sensitive to each other’s interests”.

Reflecting recent statements by U.S. officials that they would consider India an important part of any future reform plans for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the joint statement confirmed that “global institutions of governance should reflect contemporary realities”.

Responding to media questions on the subject, Ms. Clinton said, “We don’t have any way forward yet on Security Council reform, but we are obviously very committed to considering India. At this point… there is no consensus in the world and that is the challenge of dealing with multilateral organisations.”

In terms of regional issues, Ms. Clinton and Mr. Krishna reiterated their shared interest and commitment to a “stable, sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan”, and Ms. Clinton “welcomed India’s vital contribution to reconstruction, capacity building and development efforts in Afghanistan and its offer to enhance efforts in this direction”.

Mr. Krishna, in particular, was emphatic that given the “historical and civilisational affinity that we have with Afghanistan” India would stay the course in that country “to defeat these terrorist [machinations]”.

Eliminate terrorist safe havens

Both leaders concurred on the gravity of recent terror incidents in the U.S. and India and called for swift and credible steps to eliminate terrorist safe havens. They vowed to strengthen global consensus and legal regimes against terrorism, including by working together at the United Nations toward adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

Noting that India was the country with which the U.S. had the maximum number of joint defence exercises, both leaders also noted the scope for enhancement of defence trade between the two countries to the mutual benefit of both sides. They pledged to continue working together on maritime security, counter-piracy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response.

Ms. Clinton also welcomed India’s announcement of establishing a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership with focus on advanced nuclear energy systems, nuclear security, radiological safety and applications of radio isotopes and radiation technologies and appreciated India’s intent to welcome participation by international partner countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the work of the Centre.

The leaders further committed to continue working together to achieve an early start of negotiations on a “multilateral, non-discriminatory and internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty” at the Conference on Disarmament.

“Fragile” economic recovery

Describing the economic recovery as “fragile”, Mr. Krishna and Ms. Clinton noted that it required sustained international support, including G20 countries which should continue maintaining openness in trade policies and promoting innovation and growth. This would be considered again at the next meeting of the G20 in Canada.

Ms. Clinton also noted, “U.S. and Indian cabinet secretaries and ministers will meet on June 22 in Washington with members of the U.S.-India CEO Forum to hear recommendations on specific steps our two governments can take to expand trade and investment.”

Export controls

On the unresolved question of restrictions by the U.S. on high-tech, dual-use items of trade, the leaders “committed to approach the issue of export controls in the spirit of the strategic partnership between the two countries.”

With a strong focus on sustainable development, the joint statement underscored the goal of establishing a Joint Clean Energy Research Centre and accelerating collaborative efforts to deploy clean energy technologies in both countries.

Other areas of cooperation that saw agreements being put in place include agricultural cooperation and food security, university education partnerships, and establishing a Regional Global Disease Detection Centre in India.

In conclusion, the two sides noted they would hold the next meeting of the Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi in the first half of 2011.

Labels: Hillary Clinton, India-U.S. strategic dialogue, joint statement, S.M. Krishna

From The Hindu

At the start of the United States-India Strategic Dialogue on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna pressed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with a request to provide Indian authorities with access to David Coleman Headley, accused in the Mumbai attacks and currently in the custody of the United States. He also pushed for relaxation of export control restrictions by the U.S. on high-tech goods sought by India.

In a clear indication of India's frustration with the lack of progress in the Headley case over two months after Headley struck a bargain with the U.S. Department of Justice, Mr. Krishna said, "access for our authorities to persons who have been apprehended by your Government in connection with [the] Mumbai terror attack is the logical next step."

Mr. Krishna added, "We are confident that our continued cooperation will lead to [the] realisation of this objective." He however noted that India valued the support it had received from the U.S. government in its investigations.

He also touched upon another area where India is awaiting a favourable U.S. policy response -- export control restrictions on high-tech goods, particularly dual-use items.

In this regard Mr. Krishna said in his opening remarks, "Given the strategic nature of our partnership and particularly the conclusion of the Civil Nuclear Initiative, these controls are not only anomalous but also a hindrance to furthering trade and investment in this particularly significant sector of our economies."

He added that India looked forward to "early steps in this direction".

On dispelling doubts

In her statements, Secretary Clinton sought to dispel 'doubts that remain on both sides'. Ms. Clinton said there were still "doubts among some Indians that the U.S. only, or mainly, sees India in the context of Afghanistan or Pakistan, or that we will hasten our departure from Afghanistan leaving India to deal with the aftermath".

She noted that equally, there were also "doubts in America that India has not fully embraced its role in regional or global affairs or will not make the economic reform needed to foster additional progress".

However, she argued that with this Dialogue and the level of confidence that India and the U.S. have established between themselves, they would "confront these challenges directly and candidly".

Click here for video of joint press conference by Hillary Clinton and S.M. Krishna. Source: U.S. State Department.

Labels: David Coleman Headley, high-technology exports, Hillary Clinton, India-U.S. ties, non-proliferation agenda, nuclear security, S.M. Krishna, Strategic Dialogue, UNSC

From The Hindu

“The Government [of India] is committed to put in place a nuclear liability regime… [and] we look forward to U.S. companies investing in India,” said External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.

Speaking before the start of the United States-India Strategic Dialogue at an event hosted by the U.S.-India Business Council, Mr. Krishna said many companies in the U.S. were in dialogue with Indian companies already, adding, "We would like it to be as robust a partnership as we have both envisioned."

Highlighting some of the key areas of discussion over the coming days, Mr. Krishna said, they would include a wide range of subjects, "from countering terrorism and extremism, advancing nuclear security, working to secure the global commons, seeking to build a developed and cooperative Asia, and succeeding in Afghanistan to dialogues for co-operation in science and technology, research for clean energy and monsoon prediction, health and education, and a dialogue on women’s empowerment".

Mr. Krishna noted that the Dialogue would also be an important occasion for India and the U.S. to reflect on the remarkable journey that the two democracies had embarked upon, and to set their sights on new milestones.

High-technology exports

He also touched upon the question of restrictions on high-technology exports to India from the U.S., an issue that industry associations such as the High Technology Cooperation Group have been emphasising over the last few months.

Making a strong pitch for fewer restrictions Mr. Krishna said, “Indian importers have a 100 per cent compliance record when it comes to safeguarding imported technology — we have been implementing the End-Use Verification Agreement with U.S. partners for years now — and have, last year, agreed to a Technical Safeguards Agreement in space co-operation.”

He noted that India also had the End Use Monitoring arrangement for defence acquisitions and had “given a number of written assurances that U.S. technology will enjoy the level of security stipulated by the relevant U.S. laws and not be diverted in contravention of U.S. regulations.”

He said given these assurances and the trust fostered through strategic dialogue, the two countries “should be able to create an environment for a robust two way trade in advanced technology products.”

Mr. Krishna will meet with his counterpart, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and other U.S. officials on Thursday as part of the formal Strategic Dialogue discussions. President Barack Obama will also meet with the Indian delegation at the State Department during what is expected to be a star-studded reception for attending dignitaries and select media.

Labels: high-technology exports, Hillary Clinton, India-U.S. ties, non-proliferation agenda, nuclear security, S.M. Krishna, Strategic Dialogue, UNSC