Indo-US Relations in the New Millenium
12 Jan, 2000 · 303
Arvind Kumar argues that both India and the US converge on nuclear disarmament then most of the irritants between them would be diminished
Two of the recent events or actions of the
United States
have again sparked off a new debate among analysts on the futureof Indo-US relations. The de-listing of 51 Indian entities from the
US
sanctions list is a good development and siignals that the
US
wants to revamp its policy towards
India
. These Indian companies and institutions can now acquire American expertise in "non-sensitive areas" without special export licenses The punitive list was, in effect, a broad trade embargo against companies and agencies with little or no direct connection to nuclear weapons programme. However, the waiving of embargo may also help US firms and research organisations that had ties with the Indian institutions and companies. There is also a possibility that the
US
may reduce the entities list further. It is to be noted that the
US
has not de-listed any of the Pakistani entities from their sanctions lists, which is a significant development.
US
has acknowledged that
India
can have a minimum nuclear deterrent "at the level it chooses". This statement came at a time when the Vajpayee government has been trying to forge a consensus in the country for signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). There is no doubt about the quantum shift in the
US
policy towards
India
. Last fortnight only, Mr. John Holum, who is the senior most
Clinton
administration official dealing with non-proliferation and disarmamentissues stated that the
US
has not accepted the idea that
India
needs to have a credible minimum nuclear deterrent,and that
Indias
security requirements were best served without a nuclear capability.
US
position. Beginning with a demand for a roll-back and capping of
India
's nuclear facilities, the
US
has started accepting that
India
has a right to determine its minimum deterrent requirement. This may also be the first indication that the
US
is willing to consider
Indias
claim to nuclear weapon status. It is ironical that despite going overtly nuclear, neither
India
nor
Pakistan
is technically part of the exclusive nuclear club. It now seems now that the
US
may take serious note and try best to amend the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The need of the hour is for
India
to persist with US for its entry into the nuclear club. However, for all practical purposes,
India
is a nuclear weapon state.These positive developments at the end of the twentieth century would herald a new beginning in the chapter of Indo-US relations in the new millennium. A country decides its own national security interests and hence the
US
understands that the minimum deterrent (of nuclear and/ or thermonuclear weapons and missiles, and other means of delivery) would change according to
Indias
own perception of its changing security environment. Earlier, the
US
had asked
India
to define its minimum nuclear deterrent in terms of numbers.
India
is also showing its willingness to sign the CTBT which is a major irritant between the two countries. The US, despite knowing that it has a problem itself in getting American Senate approval for the CTBT's ratification, has been pressurising India for signing it without any conditions. It has already made clear to the
US
that
India
would sign the treaty if all political parties agree. However, the Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee had made it clear while addressing the United Nations General Assembly last year that
India
wont come in the way of CTBT implementation. There is also no risk involved for
India
in signing the CTBT because it has successfully conducted nuclear tests in May 1998 and collected sufficient data for computer simulation testing done for refining nuclear weapons in the laboratories. If
India
thinks it is in the country's interests to sign the CTBT, it would go ahead and sign it with an executive order and without seeking consensus at this juncture.
India
and the
US
. The
US
is seeking a trustworthy partner in
South Asia
after experimenting with
Pakistan
for so many years which has not paid them the dividends which they expected. The
US
has come to a conclusion that
India
has great potential to be a trustworthy ally.
India
has a very good track record of maintaining strict voluntary restraint on export of nuclear technology, equipment and related materials. The
US
should share its knowledge related to science and technology with
India
. Both countries should also work together in the new millennium for achieving a nuclear weapon free world. If the two nations converge on this single point of nuclear disarmament then most of the irritants between them would be diminished.
The other recent event is that the
This indicates a clear shift in the
The other positive factor in the relationship between the two countries at the dawn of the new millennium is the change in the perceptions and attitudes of the key policy makers both in
The new millennium should see both countries, adopt more pragmatic, specific, politically feasible policies which would help in forging and paving the way for a new relationship that would usher in closer cooperation in every field including commerce and economy. The most essential requirement in the new century would be to bring greater transparency in the field of nuclear technologies and nonproliferation policies.
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