Before Armitage trip, India, US try to solve differences

But as the US enters the last lap before its presidential election campaigns begin in earnest in August-September, both sides are keen that there is forward movement in the bilateral relationship that covers the expanse from Iraq to greater access in the agricultural sector on the eve of the WTO officials round later this month.

On the ‘Next Steps in Strategic Partnership,’ US ambassador to India David Mulford told journalists here today that while New Delhi had no problem giving Washington ‘‘assurances’’ that it would not use the high-technology it was importing from the US for dual-use purposes, the US remained nervous about sensitive technology that India was importing from third countries.

Mulford also pointed out that New Delhi had ‘‘taken pains’’ to see early on that no misunderstanding developed between India and the US and that there was a general identification with the need for a strong policy.

Asked why he believed that New Delhi had made that effort, Mulford said the Congress had been in public life for many years and that many of its leadership had cut its teeth in the service of non-alignment.

But the government was now ‘‘anxious to indicate’’ that that era is over, that they have moved ‘‘beyond old realignments, beyond the 70s and the 80s. They wanted to make that absolutely clear’’, he said, and ‘‘we appreciated the effort.’’

Mulford admitted that Iraq would be on the agenda during the Armitage visit, but that the question of India sending troops to that country did not arise because the US had not asked for it. On the other hand, since India had reiterated its historical links with Iraq, it was now up to New Delhi and the new Baghdad to decide how to evolve that relationship.

He said the Armitage visit would throw up the opportunity to get a ‘‘clear understanding’’ of India’s position and that he was ‘‘curious’’ to see what India’s response would be.