India is now effectively a part of the ‘‘non-proliferation establishment’’, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Jehangir Karamat, told the Daily Times newspaper on Thursday.Asked to comment on Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s Washington visit, the envoy said, ‘‘Manmohan Singh’s just-completed visit to Washington marks a new departure in the relations between the US and India—a relationship that has undergone major transformation in a decade.‘‘Two items deserve particular comment. First: the nuclear bargain. President Bush undertook to work with Congress to make full civilian nuclear cooperation with India possible. This included making the necessary changes in US domestic law, and working with other countries to make corresponding adjustments in international regimes.’’Karamat further remarked, ‘‘This is a significant change in 25 years of US non-proliferation policy. In return, India has undertaken to make its nuclear facilities conform to a variety of international norms, most importantly separating its civilian from its military facilities and putting the civilian ones under international safeguards. This is likewise a significant change in India’s long-standing policy, and one that puts it inside the non-proliferation establishment.‘‘The second noteworthy feature is the absence of any reference to Pakistan in the joint statement. There was not even a compliment on the current India-Pakistan peace efforts, though President Bush did express his support.in answer to a press question.’’In reply to a question about her assessment of the Manmohan Singh visit, Teresita Schaffer, head of the South Asia programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said, ‘‘The United States has talked for years about de-hyphenating its ties with India and with Pakistan. What we have seen in the past six months is a series of events that underline what the US means by this.‘‘One example is the repeated visits by President Musharraf to Washington, not necessarily balanced by a corresponding number of Indian visits. Another is the US aid package for Pakistan; and Pakistan’s status as a major non-NATO ally—an issue ineptly handled by the US,” she said.
