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Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi
"It will be dangerous for India to give any base, even as a temporary arrangement, to any foreign country. We remain a non-aligned country. If this government is thinking of changing the fundamentals of our foreign policy then a serious situation will develop within India," Congress leader K Natwar Singh told rediff.com.
Singh, a former minister of state for external affairs, was reacting to newspaper reports that India planned to provide some of its military facilities to the United States if it undertakes a military campaign against the Taleban in Afghanistan.
The senior Congress leader alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led federal government, particularly Defence/External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and his advisor Arun Singh, would go as far as Pakistan does in supporting the US. "If this government thinks we are not non-aligned, then the Congress will have very serious differences on foreign policy with the government," Singh, also a former member of the Indian Foreign Service, said.
"We have, broadly speaking, supported what the government intends to do. Like all political parties, the Congress too opposes terrorism. We have been victims of it in Punjab and now in Kashmir. Dr Manmohan Singh (the Congress leader) told the all-party meeting (convened by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday) we should not rush into any decision and should keep the national interest in mind."
"Pakistan has stolen a march on us by agreeing to whatever the Americans want. They have already told the US they can use bases in Pakistan whatever way they like. Pakistan has put itself in the centre," Natwar Singh said. "It is for the Indian government to decide how to handle the situation."
The Attack on America: The Complete Coverage
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