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| Thursday, 3 June 2004 |
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New Indian govt sees closer defence ties with US NEW DELHI, Wednesday (Reuters,AFP) Top Indian and U.S. defence officials brushed aside any idea that the new communist-backed government in New Delhi might distance itself from Washington and said they wanted to build still closer ties. "The meetings were very positive, there is no question of a reversal," an Indian defence ministry official said after the first of three days of talks. The meeting covered plans for more joint military exercises, cooperation in high-tech areas and new weapons for the Indian military, which in the past bought most of its foreign arms from Russia. "We had good talks, we are interested in carrying forward, in developing our strategic relationship," U.S. Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Douglas Feith told reporters after the first day's meetings of the Indo-U.S. Defence Policy Group. Separately, Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh dismissed concern that the Congress-led government in New Delhi would seek more distance in relations with Washington than its predecessor. "The impression that there might be a change in the government's attitude towards the United States is unfounded," he told a news conference. Concern about ties between India and the United States, especially military cooperation, surfaced after the Congress party won a shock election victory last month, replacing the U.S.-friendly Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress, which crafted India's policy of non-alignment during the Cold War, had criticised the BJP for tying the country's foreign policy too closely to Washington. The communists, who give the Congress-led coalition vital support, wanted a review of defence ties. But Indian officials and analysts said the new government was unlikely to disrupt the new relationship with Washington that followed decades of wariness. New Delhi is also keen not to break defence ties with the United States and Israel, which are seen as crucial in upgrading India's military equipment. "Our relationship will be based on mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, cooperation not confrontation, goodwill not growling," Singh said. India and the United States have conducted a range of joint military exercises in recent years and plan more this year. They are also in talks for India to buy more electronic sensors to check incursions across the ceasefire line dividing the Kashmir region and radars that help pinpoint enemy weapons. "They have invested a lot in the bilateral relationship in the last few years and despite the rhetoric I don't think either side would want to question that," said foreign policy expert C. Raja Mohan. Earlier India's new government pledged to press ahead with the peace process with Pakistan as it announced the two sides would hold more talks this month aimed at ending over half a century of hostility. "We attach the highest importance to relations with Pakistan. We want to solve all our problems," Foreign Minister Natwar Singh said, announcing the talks which will focus on the Kashmir issue and nuclear confidence-building. The two countries "should not be prisoners of the past," he said as he sought to quell concerns the peace drive might slow under the new Congress government. At his first major news conference sketching the administration's foreign policy, he said India and Pakistan would hold talks on easing nuclear tensions in New Delhi June 19-20 followed by a foreign secretaries' meeting on the peace process June 27-28. The announcement was the latest step towards reconciliation between the neighbours since they launched the peace drive a year ago after coming to the brink of war in 2002. |
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