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Brownback hopeful of sanctions being lifted very soon

Aziz Haniffa in Washington

Influential US Senator Sam Brownback is hopeful of US sanctions on India and Pakistan being lifted very soon, irrespective of how peace talks progress between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Brownback, a ranking member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview: "First, I would like for US to lift a bunch of sanctions on India and Pakistan as a statement of our willingness to work with the two countries."

"But also as an encouragement to the two countries that we want to have a good relationship with both and we want to encourage the sorts of talks that can ultimately lead to better relations."

Brownback, a Republican, is well known in South Asia circles for authoring amendments after the May 1998 tit-for-tat nuclear tests by India and Pakistan to lift sanctions against both countries.

"I think it's high time -- or well past time -- that sanctions were lifted against both countries regardless (of how their bilateral dialogue proceeds). I don't think they've been useful in any regard."

On whether Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had held out the sanctions like a carrot, saying the US would be watching how India-Pakistan talks go, Brownback said: "I don't know that either nation necessarily reacts to that sort of carrot on an issue that's really so personal to each nation."

He did not agree with the view that sanctions should not be lifted on Pakistan because it was being ruled by a military junta that deposed a democratically elected government and because India would consider it insulting.

"Well, there is constantly that sort of duel going on. But I would hope both sides would look and say it's a positive if the United States is more engaged and here is a way for the United States to be more engaged in the region and let's encourage the lifting of sanctions, as much as we can."

On the recent India-Pakistan summit in Agra in July, Brownback said: "First, I was delighted that the meeting took place and I thought that by itself was a very positive step."

"So I think it was a good thing and especially the fact that Prime Minister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee accepted the return visit to Pakistan. I think these are all very positive."

"I think we've been asking a lot to have had a joint communique come out, at this point of time when they are just starting to establish a rapport. So I consider this (the summit) really quite a success. Not as much as it could have been, but a success nonetheless."

As for a US role to help resolve the differences between India and Pakistan, he said, "Well, I don't want to invite us into the region without both countries being absolutely sold that the United States should be involved in the discussions between the two of them."

"But I have been advocating that the United States develop a much more vigorous relationship with India and a much more vigorous relationship with Pakistan, but separate and distinct. Now if both nations would seek for us to be involved, then there's a possible US role. But absent that, I think our role is to build a relationship with each separately."

On whether the recent India visit of Gen. Henry Shelton, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, was a good beginning for a US-India strategic partnership, he said, "I am delighted that he has visited."

"And my private discussions with the administration about a strategic relationship (with India) has been very encouraging. So I think what's taking place is (movement) toward such a relationship and discussions necessary on how to build such a relationship up."

He added that such a relationship ought to be developed with Pakistan too. "Because otherwise you are going to build a mistrust and the United States has to be involved both ways if we are going to have both these relationships developing."

Indo-Asian News Service

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