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US expects no immediate breakthrough in Jaswant-Talbott talks

C K Arora in Washington

The Bill Clinton administration has indicated that the United States of America is prepared for a 'long haul' in dealing with the sensitive nuclear issue, making it clear that Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott is not going to Delhi and Islamabad for "make-or-break" sessions.

Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl F Inderfurth told reporters yesterday, "We have to take into account that we work with them to address their security concerns in a way that moves them towards the global non-proliferation regime."

Arguing that "difficult issues need more discussion", Inderfurth said, "We will continue with [slow] progress. We hope progress will be made. We have no intention of throwing in the towel if breakthroughs are not immediately available. Our hope is that we will have more progress in 1999 than in 1998."

Inderfurth said the US is unwilling to concede any demand without satisfying its non-proliferation concerns. For example, India is keen on the restoration of World Bank loans for its infrastructure projects, a prerequisite for sustaining its newly acquired higher growth path.

But Inderfurth repeated the US stand that lifting of sanctions is linked to the progress in the non-proliferation dialogue that began shortly after India's nuclear tests in May last year. The relaxation of sanctions ordered late last year was based on progress made till then, he explained.

Inderfurth defended the American approval of the IMF bailout package for Pakistan because the country is on the verge of collapse, which is good neither for it nor for its neighbours. India, whose economy is sound, should not take this gesture as discrimination, he said.

"Our real objective is to remove all sanctions" against both countries. "How fast that happens depends on the progress that can be demonstrated by all sides," he said.

In reply to another question, Inderfurth said Talbott would also raise in New Delhi the American concern about the atrocities on Christians. The US is as much concerned about these negative developments as India, he said.

He welcomed the statements of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and the steps the government had taken to deal with the problem.

This is the eighth round of talks between senior American and Indian officials since the tests.

"Our agenda is larger than non-proliferation," Inderfurth said, stressing that the US wants to return to a more normal relationship with the two countries.

He called for "the greatest degree of restraint" on the part of both countries and that they should refrain from testing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

"In New Delhi, as the new minister for external affairs, Jaswant Singh, has put it, we will continue working together to harmonise our respective security perspectives," he added.

In Islamabad, where the US delegation reaches after a three-day stay in New Delhi, Inderfurth said "we hope to build on the positive momentum generated by Prime Minister (Nawaz) Sharief's visit to Washington and the resolution of the F-16 dispute to make concrete progress on our security and non-proliferation agenda".

"In New Delhi and Islamabad, we will also encourage the parties to move forward and make real progress in 1999 in their senior-level bilateral talks," he said. "We are very supportive of this process and the inclusion of all outstanding issues on their agenda, including Kashmir and trade and commerce."

He said small steps sometimes beget larger ones. In this context, he referred to the agreement between India and Pakistan to run a bus service between New Delhi and Lahore.

He also saw progress in the arrival of the Pakistani cricket team in India and the opening of the Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and New Delhi.

In Islamabad, Talbott will also exchange views with his Pakistani interlocutors on the situation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan will have to rid itself of narcotics traffickers and suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden to return to a working relationship with the rest of the world, Inderfurth said.

UNI

The Pokhran tests and after

The economic sanctions

The Christian attacks row

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