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Journalism of Courage
WASHINGTON, May 2: The United States has expressed recognition and understanding about New Delhi8217;s concern over Pakistan8217;s missile and nuclear proliferation, including the help it is receiving from American and Chinese firms, Indian officials said today after a new round of strategic dialogue with their US counterparts.
Foreign Secretary K Raghunath, who raised the issue during his talks on Friday with US Undersecretary Thomas Pickering, said the US would be looking into the matter and he was hopeful of some action.Armed with a clipping from The Indian Express, which first reported the story, Raghunath specifically raised the question of an American firm helping Pakistan with its nuclear program.
Asked if theUS would act on the report or brush it aside, Raghunath said 8220;We8217;ve taken it up.. these things take time. Our job is to bring it to the notice of friendly interlocutors,8221; he added, maintaining that India was constantly updating the US about Islamabad8217;s covert proliferation activity.US officials meanwhile told The Indian Express that sanctions were imminent against Pakistan8217;s Khan Laboratories following its role in the testing of a medium range Ghauri missile last month. The sanctions are expected to be notified in the federal register next week.
Raghunath said he also raised the issue of Pakistan8217;s continued support to cross-border terrorism, including the reported trip of Pakistan8217;s information minister Mushahid Hussain to a militant camp in POK shortly before the group claimed responsibility for the Udhampur massacre. That was a heinous manifestation of support to terrorism, he said.
Besides these two hot button subjects, the talks between the two sides covered the usual gamut of issues as theysought to carry forward the so-called strategic dialogue aimed at forging a new partnership in the coming years. The two sides also looked at various agreements that could be signed during President Clinton forthcoming trip to India, mainly in the area of trade, commerce and science and technology. US officials told the Indian Express the visit would most likely be made in November.
Outside these specific areas, the two sides 8212; trying to live up to the new promise of not getting mired in the stereotypes of the past 8212; felt each other out on issues like the nuclear proliferation and India8217;s bid for a permanent Security Council seat.
Foreign Secretary Raghunath, at his taciturn best during the briefing, did not give the impression that there was any fresh breakthrough or deals on the table. But he did convey the idea that the two sides were engaged in an ongoing dialogue, at the end of which was a growing American appreciation of India8217;s security concerns.
8220;Our hope is that it will beconsolidated, it will move further. We want to build on it further,8221; he said. The two sides also expanded the ambit of their mutual concerns and interests, briefing each other on a wide range of issues relating to the neighborhood.
The Americans briefed the Indians on Secretary of State Madeleine Albright8217;s visit to China and UN Ambassador Bill Richardson8217;s exertions in Afghanistan, while the Indians updated the Americans about the progress in various SAARC fora.
