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DIPLOMACY: INDO-US RELATIONS
INTERVIEW: ROBERT D. BLACKWILL
"AMERICA WILL NOT BE A NAGGING
NANNY TO INDIA ANY MORE"
Robert D. Blackwill, the US ambassador designate
to India, spoke to Executive Editor Raj Chengappa at length on where the
relations between the two countries are headed. Excerpts:
Q. Where do US relations with India stand
today and what changes are you planning?
A. I don't want to be like a judge at a diving competition and hold
up a number 6 or 8 or 9 to define Indo-US relationship. It is a challenge
for both the US and India to leave behind the dead ends of the past. President
George Bush wants to fundamentally redefine the relationship.
Q. In what way?
A. Both in terms of the process and substance. The process
will see more frequent, intense, candid exchanges between top policy-makers
of the two countries. As for substance, Bush wants to transform the relationship
from the one centred entirely on South Asia to that which engages across
the board on all the challenges to the international system. This includes
the future of global trading systems, nuclear weapons, anti-terrorism
and even issues such as climatic changes. It is unprecedented. No US Administration
has sought to do this with India.
Q. So far, the relationship has been held
hostage to America's differences with India over its nuclear policy. Will
that change now?
A. America
will not be a nagging nanny to India. We are not going to lecture India
on what its national interests are. We believe the will of the people
reflected by the democratically elected leaders is the sole judge of its
national interests. We want to engage in a serious and prolonged discussion
about the future of nuclear weapons in the international system based
on mutual respect. That's the way friends with a much closer and expansive
relationship ought to talk with one another.
Q. Have the US sanctions had the desired
impact? Will these be lifted now?
A. The
signs with respect to the direction in which the decision is moving are
clear. I believe these sanctions have failed as an instrument to affect
India's nuclear weapons. When an idea fails, one abandons it. But we need
to continue to consult with the Congress and also need to be sure that
the actions we take with regard to the post-1998 sanctions do not weaken
our global non-proliferation objectives. All I can say at the moment is
that the outcome of these processes in Washington is not all that far
away.
Q. Do you see a role for the US in improving
relations between India and Pakistan?
A. We
don't think American mediation or interventionist initiatives are right.
We don't think such moves by the US will assist the situation in any way.
So, we will urge the two countries to continue talking to one another.
We believe that India and Pakistan have to sort out this problem. We are
going to wait for the phone to ring to be asked to be helpful in one way
or the other. We are not picking up the phone and burning up the lines
ourselves.
Q. What will the US approach towards the
Kashmir issue be?
A. Let
me put it bluntly. With respect to Kashmir you are going to see no blueprints
from this administration in Washington. No blueprints. Period. This is
an issue to be dealt with by India and Pakistan taking into account the
wishes of Kashmiris. We don't have a helpful role to play.
Q. Will there be greater military cooperation
between the two countries and will the US now be willing to sell arms
to India?
A. A
burgeoning military relationship is on the horizon. To use a defence term,
it will be gaining altitude fast. This new relationship will include the
option on the part of India to buy American defence equipment. There will
be some constraints but we don't sell everything to other countries either.
There will also be the issue of cost and how much India believes it can
pay for American weapon systems if it chooses to buy them. But we will
be talking about this very soon.
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