Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today struck a more positive note on the recent US offer of F-16s, missile defence systems and civilian nuclear cooperation. On board his aircraft on a three-day trip to this picturesque island nation, the PM said with a degree of caution, ‘‘We would have to go through the details.’’ That he was responding more enthusiastically to the US package was apparent from his statement: ‘‘India welcomes the development. The fact is that the US has expressed its willingness to engage in matters related to increase in cooperation in matters related to nuclear as well as non-nuclear issues.’’ It was a significant change from his initial response of ‘‘disappointment’’ to the US offer of F-16s to Pakistan. It was apparent that the PM was no longer linking the two issues of the US resuming supply of F-16s to Pakistan and the offer of a package deal to India. The Prime Minister went on to say: ‘‘India needs help from the world community, including the United States, to emerge as a global power.’’ This was almost on the same lines as what US spokespersons and analysts have been saying for the last few days after Singh first voiced his ‘‘disappointment’’. It was also an indicator that India is waiting for Washington to lay its cards on the table and reveal what it has to offer. The PM said, ‘‘It is a fact that they want the strategic relationship (between the two countries) to grow in depth. We have to find out what they want exactly, what they have in mind.’’ When National Security Advisor M K Narayanan spoke a little after the PM did, the tone was less hesitant. When asked if the US agreeing to nuclear energy cooperation after the unilateral ban it had imposed after Pokhran I in 1974 was a positive development, Narayanan said it was ‘‘definitely positive’’. True, Singh did stress the word ‘‘disappointment’’ again today. He also reiterated that the ‘‘issue’’ had come at an inopportune time—but then, he was specifically referring to the Islamabad offer. Already, the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee have issued positive statements on the US offer. But Singh’s assertions today went a notch higher in the scale of optimism.
