Author: Aziz Haniffa
Publication: India Abroad
Date: September 29,
2000
Still on a high following
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's highly successful visit to the United
States, the administration's point man for South Asia said the die has
been cast vis-a-vis U.S.-India relations and there is only one way to go,
and that is up.
Karl F. Inderfurth,
assistant secretary of state for South Asia, in an exclusive interview
with India Abroad, said: "I think that both countries have come a long
way in a short period of time. But we need to pay very close attention
and work hard to make sure that this relationship is sustained."
"There is no question
that the president is a fan of India," he said, "and he has, perhaps, more
than any American president ever, wanted to get our relationship with India
on the right track, and it is now our hope that this will be carried forward
by the next administration."
According to Inderfurth,
perhaps the most important thing President Bill Clinton said during his
summit meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was, "I want to
leave this relationship in the best possible shape for my successor, so
that he can pick up the ball and run with it."
"That encapsulated what
this visit was all about from the U.S. side," Inderfurth said.
"and that's why the president, despite having seen the prime minister only
six months ago, very much wanted him to come here and to further institutionalize
this broad-based relationship and to make sure that the momentum continues."
When reminded that some
South Asia analysts here have contended that India will not emerge as a
"true partner" of the U.S. unless it deals with the situation in
South Asia, Inderfurth said he would rather these analysts stand on their
own. But he did acknowledge that "it is true that it will be to India's
interest, and certainly Pakistan's, to see their differences resolved."
He asserted, however,
that the U.S.-India relationship would be "based on the merits of our bilateral
relationship. It is not making a choice or statement about any other
country, whether it be Pakistan or China."
"We are pursuing relations
with India on their own merits, as we will pursue our relationship with
Pakistan on its own merits," he added.
But he asserted, "We
certainly will do all we can in support of saying that India and Pakistan
are able to address their long-standing differences and, of course, we
do believe that they must do that themselves and through dialogue.
And, we hope that they will be able to resume a serious, sincere dialogue
and hope that they will be able to resume it at the earliest possible moment."
Reiterating the administration's
position, which has clearly veered toward New Delhi's contention that Islamabad
has to rein in elements fomenting violence in Kashmir for any dialogue
to be possible, Inderfurth said, "We do believe that steps will have to
be taken to create the positive environment in which talks could flourish."
On Sept. 15, briefing
the press at the White House immediately after the Clinton-Vajpayee talks,
Inderfurth, when pressed on whether the U.S. has seen any diminution
in Pakistani support for militants, said: "We've not seen, unfortunately,
sufficient diminution in the level of violence in Kashmir."
Inderfurth noted that
the president still stands ready to offer his good offices to help India
and Pakistan resolve their differences, if asked by both countries.
"The president has demonstrated his great interest in the region -- the
opportunities there and his willingness to be of assistance in helping
the parties resolve differences."
The official said Clinton
"has a lot of experience in trying to find political paths forward on very
difficult issues like this."
On the issue of sanctions,
and the fact that for all the exuding of warmth and bonhomie, these restrictions
on India imposed after New Delhi's 1998 Pokharan nuclear tests were not
relaxed even as a good-faith gesture to coincide with Vajpayee's visit,
Inderfurth maintained that the relationship, despite the sanctions, "is
on a fast track."
"If you look at the joint
statement, it is filled with things that we are doing, none of which are
constrained by sanctions," he argued. "Yes, there are continuing
restraints on our relationship, but in terms of what we are able to do,
we have a wide range of activities, a very full agenda."
But, Inderfurth noted
that Clinton had said that the India-U.S. relationship "will not
reach its full potential until we have made further progress" on issues
relating to the security and on the non-proliferation front.
He noted that the president
had also said in his welcoming remarks to Vajpayee at the arrival ceremony
at the White House that "no matter our differences, if we speak with care
and listen with respect, we will find common ground."
Meanwhile, Inderfurth
said he could not underscore enough the important catalytic role of the
Indian-American community in promoting U.S.-India relations.
"Quite frankly," he predicted,
"in terms of the continuation of this newer and closer relationship, the
support and active involvement of the Indian-American community will be
one of the major foundations to make sure that this continues into the
next administration and beyond.
