Indo-US Relations
31 Dec, 1999 · 302
Sonika Gupta reports on the IPCS Seminar held on 27 November 99
Alok Prasad provided an overview of Indo-US relations with an emphasis on its Post- Pokharan aspects . According to him, the
US
began a reassessment of its relations with
India
in the early 1990s. A change of personnel in the
Clinton
administration underlay this assessment. The major issue this involved was the CTBT. The
Clinton
administration realized that
India
would not sign the CTBT under pressure. Despite the
US
not being in favor of nuclearization, it was made clear by
India
that its nuclear option would be kept open. This was also a period of intense engagement with many cabinet level exchanges between the two countries, including a strategic dialogue between Thomas Pickering and Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath. Though this dialogue has been belittled by critics, it laid the groundwork for rebuilding Indo-US relations after
India
's nuclear tests.
India
, and
India
's nuclear posture. On all these issues
India
's response has been favorable. It had already announced a moratorium on further nuclear testing after its tests in May 1998. It was also willing to join the FMCT negotiations in
Geneva
. On the export front,
India
was willing to introduce more stringent export control measures and finally
India
's defence posture was spelt out in its nuclear doctrine with a no-first-use policy and maintenance of a credible minimum deterrence. Along with these, a number of other issues including terrorism and
Afghanistan
also figured.
India
and the
US
. The
US
Secretary for Energy, Bill Richardson's visit to
New Delhi
, earlier this year, presented opportunities for increased Indo-US cooperation in the field of energy. However, this increased co-operation needs to be realistically qualified.
India
cannot possibly hope to receive nuclear reactors from the
US
, though it may build on co-operation in the area of nuclear safety.
India
and the
US
have been at cross-purposes in the WTO, especially on the issues of Intellectual Property Rights and Trade Related Investment Measures. New areas of co-operation such as e-commerce and information technology have been identified between the two countries. Though military to military contact between
India
& the
US
has not been very significant, however, the Army Chief Gen. V.P. Malik's recent visit to the
Hawaii
and
Washington
is as a breakthrough in this area.
Clinton
administration has been suggesting the President's visit to
India
in February- March next year. The
US
has time and again said that there are no preconditions to the
US
President's visit. However,
India
is keen to hold it in a positive and warm atmosphere which, unfortunately, is compromised by the existing
US
sanctions against
India
. Whether the proposed visit takes place or not, it shall be
India
's endeavour to build a broad based relationship with the
US
.
India
not more focussed about conducting a strategic dialogue with the
US
?
India
is looking for is a strategic understanding with the
US
and mutual accommodation of each other's world view. This includes an understanding on the issues of terrorism,
Afghanistan
and even
China
.
India
does not want to become a camp follower as it always has and will pursue an independent foreign policy.
US
attempts to marginalize
India
as a nuclear weapons state by forcing CTBT down our throats?
US
to keep
India
out of the privileged 'Nuclear Club'. However, Indian thinking too, needs to be more dynamic in the post Pokharan scene. Before
India
conducted the nuclear tests we could not have signed the CTBT and ensured our security. But now we can.
US
wants
India
to quantify its deterrent. Is that imminent?
India
's nuclear doctrine is very clear about the dimensions of
India
's defence posture. The key issue here is one of survivability and not of triad. In keeping with this, the doctrine does not mention terms like first strike or second strike. It only ensures a capability to retaliate. And the guiding principle of this defence posture is the credible minimum deterrence.
US
and
China
exchanged information on Kargil during the conflict. From this does it emerge that the US and
China
are aiming at some kind of joint management of
South Asia
?
US
has a much broader relationship with
China
than with
India
. It is understandable if they kept each other informed of the developments during the Kargil crisis. However,
India
does object to demarcating the South Asian region as some kind of Chinese sphere of influence by the
US
and giving it a kind of watchdog role in the region. However, the
US
attitude to the Kargil was beneficial to
India
. The
US
had its own independent information on the Kargil conflict and the involvement of Pakistani Army regulars. The political commitment of the Indian side to not cross the LoC in face of the intrusions by the Pakistani Army was appreciated by the
US
. Further, the
US
stance also influenced the Chinese response to the Kargil conflict.
China
saw the
US
and the G-8 reaction taking a forthright stand, they also did the same. In fact, the Pakistanis were advised by
China
to cut their losses in Kargil, and withdraw their forces.
US
perception that the nuclear tests were a breach of trust on part of
India
continue to affect the bilateral ties? Will a Republican Government in the White House spell major changes in the Indo-US relations?
India
was very clear about keeping its nuclear option open from the very beginning. If the
US
chose to interpret it differently, the onus of a 'breach of trust' can hardly be placed on
India
.
India
could not ensure its security in face of
Pakistan
's testing of the Ghauri missile by exercising restraint.
US
, there is a feeling in
India
that the Democrats in the
US
are more pro-India. This is not true. In fact, the Republican Governments are more pragmatic and hard-headed in dealing with issues like the NPT. However,
India
has succeeded in getting fairly bi-partisan support from the parties in the
US
.
US
really understand
India
's security concerns?
US
is beginning to understand
India
's concerns about
China
. However, this has not permeated to all levels of thinking in the
US
In the post Pokharan scene, the major issues in bilateral relations were the CTBT, FMCT, more stringent export controls by
After the tests, the Jaswant Singh -Strobe Talbott talks have laid the foundation of a broad based relationship between the two countries. The concrete outcome of these talks was the UN Security Council resolution against Taliban. Other areas like energy witnessed increased interaction between
On the economic front, though
The
Questions, Comments & Response
Question: Why is
Response: What
Question: What is the Indian response to the
Response: It is an effort on the part of the
Question: The
Response:
Question: The
Response: The
Question: Will the
Response:
About a change in Government in the
Question: Does the
Response: The
POPULAR COMMENTARIES
