Opinion/Karl F Inderfurth

'US expects closer ties with India'

The essential message I carry from Washington is this: the international community has not given South Asia, and particularly India, the attention that it deserves and that American interests are very much served by developing further our relationship with India.

During the second Clinton administration, you will see a new and more constructive approach to South Asia, which already is being symbolised by the announcement of a series of high-level visits to the region, including the secretary of state later this year and the president early next year.

As many of you know, I travelled with the last American president to visit India 20 years ago. I look forward to travelling with the next in 1998. We very much expect the outcome of this new approach to be a closer, more productive, indeed a more normal, relationship with each of the countries here. And in this regard, we have India very much in mind.

That said, I see four areas where we share important interests and where we can accomplish more together than by working separately.

International security co-operation

First, in the world of the 21st century, powers such as India and the United States must learn how to work together on issues of international peace and security. The secretary of state and I had the opportunity and distinct pleasure to work closely with representatives of the Indian government during my time at the United Nations. We know first hand the potential for our two countries to cooperate, share information, exchange candid views, and work together on global strategic issues.

There is no more obvious example of this than our cooperation on international peacekeeping. No region of the world has contributed more to international peacekeeping than South Asia. I note the sacrifices your citizens and soldiers have made to promote peace in Somalia, Angola, Bosnia, Cambodia, and a dozen other places where UN peacekeepers have served with distinction.

Global issues

Second, throughout the world, a set of issues is gaining increasing prominence in which we and India each will play a critical role. These issues transcend national boundaries and will demand a new level of co-operation between nation states. I would include among these issues: population growth, pollution of our air and seas, human rights, terrorism, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. I would add in this latter category the worldwide landmine crisis, a cause so eloquently championed by Princess Diana before her tragic death last month.

We need to work together, and closely, on these issues, which in the coming century may well surpass traditional balance of power politics as the defining element in relations among states. We need to look at creative ways to engage and find common cause on these issues, as we have already with our path-breaking common agenda for the environment.

Along with these new international problems come new and exciting opportunities. Never before, for example, has the world seen the growth of democracy as it has in this past decade. The fall of the Soviet Union, the transformation of Eastern Europe, the peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa, and the spread of democratic thinking in Asia are transforming events which have paved the way for an unprecedented expansion of the democratic ideals and values which our two nations cherish.

Both India and the United States have learned much in our struggles to preserve and improve our own democracies. We will certainly have important opportunities, I believe, to share our experiences with countries eager to embrace democratic principles and adapt them to their own circumstances. In this way, India has even more to offer, as your experience is perhaps more relevant than ours to the situations of the current emerging democracies of the world.

Economic opportunity

Third, our two countries have already demonstrated their tremendous potential for bilateral economic collaboration, but we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. So far, investment and joint venture activities have been confined to leading risk takers such as the people in this room.

As it becomes more routine for Americans to work and do business here, and for Indians to work and do business in the US, confidence will grow and our economic cross-fertilisation will increase exponentially. I am very bullish about the prospects for US-India commercial relationships, in large part because I know that business pioneers such as you have already laid the foundations for a level of interaction far beyond where we are now.

As I settle in to my responsibilities, I intend to make this area of our relationship a priority, as there are tangible benefits to accrue to both of our countries. I do not underestimate the depth of the challenge before me, as I know that much remains to be done -- the dollar figures for a two-way trade between the United States and India are promising in their direction, but are striking more for what they say about unfilled potential than for anything else.

South Asian stability

Finally, the United States remains concerned about peace in Asia, and particularly about stability in the South Asian subcontinent. We recognise that resolution of regional tensions in South Asia will only come from decisions and actions of the regional parties themselves. We do not seek to mediate, but we have been encouraged on this front by the recent positive developments between India and Pakistan.

We also are mindful and appreciative of the steps that India has taken under Prime Minister Gujral to improve, and put on a much sounder footing, India's relationships with Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. As I travel to these other countries after India, I expect to hear much in this regard and will carry a similar message of support.

A Washington Post editorial recently remarked that 'a little ripple of promise of better relations between India and Pakistan has spread across South Asia.' The United States should do whatever we can to encourage this 'little ripple' to gain strength and succeed. Again, this does not mean we seek to interfere in any way or to assume any role which we are not asked to take. But you may be assured of our continued interest, support and encouragement, and we will be happy to assist in whatever ways you deem fit.

In Washington recently, I had an opportunity to see a great friend of India, Frank Wisner, We have come far in the last three years, and much of the credit on the American side goes to Ambassador Wisner. He has set the tone for diplomatic, military, commercial, and cultural interaction between our two countrieswell into the next century.

I can assure you that it is not by chance that a man of his calibre was sent by my government to New Delhi. It is a reflection of the importance that we attach to our relations with India. And I can assure you that the new ambassador will be a person who will continue in Ambassador Wisner's tradition, and I hope to see that ambassador arrive in New Delhi as quickly as possible.

In conclusion, I am optimistic about India and about the future of the Indo-American relationship. We have many historic and cultural ties that bind us together. It is not coincidental that our respective constitutions begin with the inspiring phrase, 'We the people...' while we will continue to confront challenges, and perhaps will have honest differences of opinion, there also exist some important opportunities just around the corner. For me personally, in the months and years ahead, I look forward to coming to India often, to learn from you and better understand how we can work together.

The American assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs delivered this speech in New Delhi last week. This was the only public statement he made during his Indian visit.

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