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| Saturday, 29 May 2004 |
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India's new Govt to seek multipolar world NEW DELHI, Friday (AFP) India's new government said it would pursue close relations with the United States but fight unilateralism, while maintaining a peace process with rival Pakistan. "Even as it pursues close engagement and relations with the United States, the government will maintain the independence of India's foreign policy on all regional and global issues," the 20-party United Progressive Alliance (UPA) said in its policy platform. "This policy will seek to promote multipolarity in world relations and oppose all attempts at unilateralism," it said. "The UPA is committed to deepening ties with Russia and Europe as well." The Congress party, which heads the coalition, had before the election accused the then Hindu nationalist government of making India "subordinate" to Washington in its push for close relations. The new government's policy blueprint said India would maintain the nuclear arsenal. Reiterating statements by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet, the agenda said the new administration would maintain the peace process with Pakistan launched by the previous government. "Dialogue with Pakistan on all issues will be pursued systematically on a sustained basis," it said. The document also pledged support for the Palestinians. The previous government had built warm ties with Israel, particularly in defence, and Ariel Sharon in September made the first visit by a sitting Israeli prime minister to India. The platform also pledged to "withdraw Indian mercenaries in Iraq while further recruitment for this purpose will be banned", referring to reports that former Indian troops had gone to the US-occupied country to work for private security firms. It said the government would give "highest priority to building closer political, economic and other ties with its neighbours in South Asia". On ties with India's giant northern neighbour, the statement said: "Trade and investment with China will be expanded further and talks on the border issue pursued seriously," referring to a dragging border dispute between the world's two most populous nations. |
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