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Brajesh Mishra in Paris for strategic talks

Ranvir Nayar in Paris

A high level delegation, led by Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, arrived in Paris on Sunday for a crucial round of strategic dialogue with the French authorities.

The latest round of strategic dialogue, which began on Monday, is extremely significant since this is the first such contact between India and France after the coup d'etat staged by General Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan in October and the hijacking of the Indian Airlines aircraft in December.

India is the only non-European country, besides Japan, with which the French conduct this dialogue on a regular basis. The idea for holding the dialogue was mooted during the visit of the French President, Jacques Chirac to India in 1998 and the two sides have been having this dialogue at regular intervals.

"The strategic dialogue has been an efficient channel of strengthening political relations with France. The fact that it is being held at regular intervals shows that both sides recognise its usefulness in a rapidly changing world," Kanwal Sibal, Indian ambassador to France told rediff.com in Paris recently.

The French delegation for the dialogue is led by Gerrard Errerra, special representative of French President Jacques Chirac. The dialogue will be largely conducted in three sessions -- one each on disarmament, regional issues and bilateral relations. Though a large variety of bilateral, regional and global issues will be up for discussion, the situation in the sub-continent will be one of the main issues on the agenda.

India is expected to brief France about the situation in Kashmir, following the recent spurt in Pakistan-abetted terrorism and the attacks on army camps in the state.

India is also expected to brief France about the developments in its bilateral relations with Pakistan following the coup. Though Musharraf has been trying to win over the Western world with his repeated calls for negotiations with India, the Indian leadership has rejected any talks.

Mishra is expected to explain to the French the reasons behind India's refusal to hold any peace talks till Pakistan stopped instigating terrorism in Kashmir. France is also expected to share with India its own perception of the developments in Pakistan and the region.

Nuclear proliferation and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will also figure in the negotiations. India has in the past used the strategic dialogue to share with France its perceptions of the situation following the nuclear tests conducted in May 1998. However, the situation has changed dramatically since the last round of the strategic dialogue due to the rejection of the CTBT by the United States Senate. Though the Western countries, including the US, have been putting pressure on India to sign the treaty, they now lack the moral pressure.

On its side, France is expected to brief India about the developments in the Europe Union, and the situation in the unstable Balkans, especially in view of the upcoming French presidency of the EU in July. The Indians will also be told about the developments in European defence systems.

Sibal says the current round of the dialogue is specially critical due to the large number of significant developments that have taken place since the last round and says the dialogue will give both the sides an opportunity to update each other about their positions. "The fact that India and a major P-5 country like France have channels of communication to share their respective assessments is very useful exchange,'' Sibal told rediff.com.

Mishra will be accompanied by joint secretary (disarmament) Rakesh Sood and joint secretary (Western Europe) Bashwati Mukherjee. Also participating in the dialogue will be the Indian ambassador to France, Kanwal Sibal and deputy ambassador Arif Khan.

Mishra is also expected to address a breakfast meeting at the famous Institute Francaise des Relations Internationales (IFRI) and later meet the French press at the Press Club de France.

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