|
21 UP
Indo-US
Interface: Get Real
In
diplomacy, the shadow play is usually more revealing than live television
coverage. Especially in summit meetings between leaders of two countries
where nuances matter and body language counts, where long statements have
a short meaning and what is left unsaid is as significant as what is said.
So how does one make sense of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's
12-day sojourn in the US? Here is a primer:
What was
said:
At the mammoth banquet hosted for Vajpayee at the White House President
Bill Clinton said, "We have built the strongest, the most mature
partnership that India and US have known." (It was also apparently
the biggest dinner meet he had organised for a visiting leader in his
eight years as president).
What it
really meant:
Buddy, much as we like, we can't untest your weapons. So let's see how
best we can temper your nuke ambitions by carrying our relations forward
on other issues.
What was
said:
Vajpayee knows that brevity is as much the soul in diplomacy as it is
in wit. In his return toast, he told Clinton, "America and India
are now on the right side of history."
What it
really meant:
Bhai, we haven't forgotten your digs in the past, especially about
being on the wrong side of your history. Now at least drop your supercilious
tone and speak to India as a friend.
What was
stated:
Judging by the atmospherics of the visit, the relations between the
two countries did receive a fillip despite a lame-duck president and a
hobbling prime minister.
What it
really meant:
Besides the hoopla, we really had nothing down to earth to build on.
So let's party.
What was
said:
Though the Big K word (gasp) figured in the talks between the two
sides, the US said the issue had to be sorted bilaterally.
What it
really meant:
Look guys, we are willing to give you more time on the K front as right
now we are too preoccupied with our presidential elections.
What was
said:
On issues such as international terrorism, Clinton said that the two
countries were in the same boat and had to find a way to steer together.
What it
really meant:
Great, finally we found a common issue like the Taliban which figures
high in our domestic politics.
What was
said:
On the question of signing the CTBT, Vajpayee revealed that it did
come up in his meeting with Clinton. But he told the US president that
he needed to build a political consensus at home.
What it
really meant:
India is still undecided.
What was
said:
Trade relations between US and India have a vast potential.
What it
really meant:
Gosh, it's peanuts right now.
(Raj Chengappa
is Deputy Editor, INDIA TODAY and author of Weapons of Peace: The Secret
Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power.) He is based in Delhi.
Write
to Raj Chengappa.)
|
