WASHINGTON, OCT 5: Don't flight test missiles in the direction of the other country. Provide at least two weeks notice before any flight test. Don't mount nuclear warheads on missiles and launch vehicles. Keep the storage facility for warheads away from the missile sites.These are some of the suggestions made by the United States for a restraint regime between India and Pakistan as the two neighbours embark October 15-18 on bilateral talks relating to peace and security in the region.Washington has been speaking separately and privately to both countries about such a restraint regime but hopes the two countries will now take it up with each other.Senior administration officials said the model for the restraint regime was the kind the US had with the former Soviet Union.The difference was despite the buildup then, the two countries had a big ocean between them and did not have a potential flashpoint.Officials here say they have been concerned about (India and Pakistan) crossing new thresholdswhich has made security environment more dangerous.These - not flight testing in each others direction and notification - are relatively easy steps. The issue of operational deployment - not mounting nuclear warheads on missiles and keeping storage facility at a distance from missiles - will also give a greater sense of confidence, a senior administration official told The Indian Express in an interview.The official however said the proposed restraint regime must be sovereign decisions, not imposed or commanded by others. These are steps that should be considered and discussed directly between the two countries, he clarified.Washington hoped that some day India can have similar discussions with China.We are encouraging China to begin a strategic dialogue with India to address concerns that both have with each other. We are not going to find ourselves in a mediating position, but we will be encouraging. So in this three-way street, the US will not be a traffic cop but we will be encouraging movement andensuring there are no accidents. The official also spoke about the defence posture statement put out by the United States each year and stressed the need for similar transparency in the region.If there is one thing we can hope all countries will appreciate, it is the United States has long history dealing with such (arms control) issues. We should be seen as a good resource even if they don't agree with our recommendations. The US and USSR have a long history of dealing with it and coming to a very successful conclusion. We never crossed the brink, the official said.The US, he said, was listening closely to New Delhi's minimum credible deterrence policy. Surprisingly, Pakistan is also saying it will seek a minimum defence posture. Washington would like them to better define their minimum deterrence posture and be transparent about their requirements, he said.Bravo India, lauds USWASHINGTON: The US has appreciated the fact that India is holding its military exercises after dulynotifying Pakistan under terms of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between the two countries.``We are happy that this is a transparent event which shows that CBMs work'', a state department official told The Indian Express, confirming that the US was aware that the Brigade-level exercises were of a routine nature and India had kept Pakistan informed about it.Virtually rubbishing alarmist reports in the British media about the event, the official said Washington hoped such transparency would augur well for the forthcoming talks between India and Pakistan. ``We hope they will have constructive and positive talks and we wish them well,'' the official said.
