US admin appreciates India’s efforts to improve regional ties

Identifying India as an "emerging global power," the US administration's top intelligence official appreciated its efforts to improve regional ties,including its approach to the rising power China and the war-devastated Afghanistan.

Identifying India as an “emerging global power,” the US administration’s top intelligence official on Wednesday appreciated its efforts to improve regional ties,including its approach to the rising power China and the war-devastated Afghanistan.

Dennis C Blair,Director of National Intelligence in his Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community,also noted positively the efforts of the UPA-led government to improve regional relationships through advocacy of greater economic links among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations.

“… and (through) successful bilateral meetings such as the January 2010 State Visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

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Submitting the report before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,Blair said Indian leaders have publicly declared that rise of China and India is not a harbinger of automatic conflict but a constructive challenge and an opportunity for innovation and collaboration.

He recalled that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his US visit last year had noted that the world should “prepare for the rise of China as a major power,” and also said that engagement with China was the “right strategy” for India despite some differences over border issues.

India’s relationship with Pakistan,however,remains stalled in the aftermath of 26/11 with India linking dialogue resumption to prosecution of perpetrators,he said.

“Singh has publicly reaffirmed two additional,critical points vis-a-vis Pakistan: that India does not want to see the country fail and that Pakistan is engaged in efforts to combat Taliban operating on Pakistani territory,” Blair said.

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New Delhi also sees a stable,friendly Afghanistan as crucial to India’s security,but takes a measured approach to its assistance to Kabul,he noted.

Indian leaders have underscored their desire to help reestablish a viable civil society in Afghanistan under a strong democratic government,noting the USD 1.2 billion civilian assistance programmes.

He also said India interprets the recent public polling in Afghanistan which indicates that Afghan citizens are favourably disposed towards India’s role in country as a positive endorsement of Indian activities to date.

Blair said as one of the engines of the global economy,India continues to demonstrate the potential for strong growth in 2010 and remains an attractive location for investment.

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“In keeping with its status as an emerging world power,the Government of India exerts strong leadership in global and regional fora and in important bilateral relationships,” he said,adding India has also supported strategic outcomes in multilateral groupings such as the G-20 and Copenhagen.

“India’s recent decision to participate in the April 2010 Global Security Summit signals a continuation of this trend,as New Delhi is likely to pursue longer terms goals to diminish the numbers and role of nuclear weapons in global security even as the country remains steadfast in its refusal to sign the NPT,” Blair said.