Viewing India as a “rising global power”, the United States on Thursday pitched for a greater role for New Delhi in international affairs and in meeting challenges in South Asia, including bringing stability to Afghanistan.
Launching the first-ever Indo-US Strategic Dialogue along with the external affairs minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, the US secretary of state, Ms Hillary Clinton, said America felt India had not “fully embraced” its role in regional and global affairs and indicated support for India’s aspirations for a permanent seat in the expanded UN Security Council.
She sought to dispel “doubts” that the US sees India “only or mainly in the context of Afghanistan and Pakistan” and that America “will hasten our departure from Afghanistan, leaving India to deal with the aftermath”.
They discussed Afghanistan and Pakistan and ways to step up cooperation. “India is a rising global power and already a regional power in Asia. Thus more the need to work closely with India to meet the immediate challenges in the neighbourhood,” she said.
Mr Krishna noted that the institution of the Strategic Dialogue was a reflection of the deepening and broadening of our relations between the two countries. “We both have an abiding interest in a stable international order and in the maintenance of peace,” he said.
Showing posts with label S.M. Krishna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S.M. Krishna. Show all posts
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Krishna to visit Pak on July 15
The external affairs minister, Mr S.M.Krishna, has indicated that India’s concerns on terror would also be discussed when he meets his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in Islamabad on July 15.
The date and venue of the talks was firmed up Tuesday in a telephone conversation between the two ministers.
The foreign ministers’ talks follows the brief meeting between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani, on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Thimpu late last month.
Speaking on board the flight to the Kazakh capital of Astana where he is to attend bilateral talks, Mr Krishna said: “The Thimpu spirit is that we discuss everything and there are no issues that are to be kept outside.” He added, “I’m sure that Pakistan shares this concern of ours.”
The last time the foreign ministers had a meeting was on November 26, 2008 just hours before terrorists from Pakistan unleashed mayhem in Mumbai, killing around 200 people.
In Islamabad, Mr Qureshi said India and Pakistan were going into the talks with an open mind. He said: “I will not create any false hopes. I am a realist.”
The Krishna-Qureshi meeting would be preceded by the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram’s visit to Islamabad on June 26 for the much-delayed meeting of the home ministers of Saarc countries. When his attention was drawn to a recent suggestion by Finland’s foreign minister, Mr Alexander Stubb on third-party mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue, Mr Krishna remarked: “When we are talking to Pakistan directly, where does the question of third party mediation arise?”
The date and venue of the talks was firmed up Tuesday in a telephone conversation between the two ministers.
The foreign ministers’ talks follows the brief meeting between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani, on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Thimpu late last month.
Speaking on board the flight to the Kazakh capital of Astana where he is to attend bilateral talks, Mr Krishna said: “The Thimpu spirit is that we discuss everything and there are no issues that are to be kept outside.” He added, “I’m sure that Pakistan shares this concern of ours.”
The last time the foreign ministers had a meeting was on November 26, 2008 just hours before terrorists from Pakistan unleashed mayhem in Mumbai, killing around 200 people.
In Islamabad, Mr Qureshi said India and Pakistan were going into the talks with an open mind. He said: “I will not create any false hopes. I am a realist.”
The Krishna-Qureshi meeting would be preceded by the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram’s visit to Islamabad on June 26 for the much-delayed meeting of the home ministers of Saarc countries. When his attention was drawn to a recent suggestion by Finland’s foreign minister, Mr Alexander Stubb on third-party mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue, Mr Krishna remarked: “When we are talking to Pakistan directly, where does the question of third party mediation arise?”
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Terror only issue with Pak: SM
The external affairs minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, on Monday said a meeting between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Yousaf Raza Gilani, on the sidelines of the two-day 16th Saarc summit had always been in the air.
The spirit of it was to keep up bilateral contacts at a high level even if no concrete forward movement on key questions was expected. A sense of engagement might be better than its absence, he observed.
Responding to a question on whether India would agree to hand over Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured after the 26/11 Mumbai attack, to Pakistan following the demand to that effect made by the Pakistan’s interior minister, Mr Rahman Malik, the external affairs minister said, “Late last night I received the six dossiers forwarded by Pakistan, and have not had the time to apply my mind. The decision would naturally be taken after due consultation among the various arms of the government. However, the Kasab trial is in an advanced stage in India. We should complete our own process first before taking a call on other matters.”
A high-level source noted that the dossiers from Islamabad were a response to the material India had sent them earlier, and related to the trial of the Pakistani conspirators of 26/11.
He indicated that “terrorism” was the only issue of substance to talk to the Pakistan Prime Minister about at this stage.
It is understood top Indian officials and ambassadors in the region are unable to grasp the reasons for holding a bilateral meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister at this stage.
Those who deal with Pakistan on a regular basis best understand the futility of engagement at the highest level at the current juncture, sources said.
Asked if agreeing to meet Mr Gilani in Thimpu amounted to Dr Singh accepting the contours of the Pakistani “roadmap” for resumption of the composite dialogue process suspended by India after the attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, a leading source said, “It is too early to go that far. We do need to understand first how far Pakistan wishes to advance the relationship, and whether it is capable of taking the necessary steps.”
The Pakistan “roadmap” was enunciated at a meeting of the foreign secretaries of the two countries on February 25.
It envisaged a meeting between the two Prime Ministers, taking advantage of their presence at the Saarc summit.
The spirit of it was to keep up bilateral contacts at a high level even if no concrete forward movement on key questions was expected. A sense of engagement might be better than its absence, he observed.
Responding to a question on whether India would agree to hand over Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured after the 26/11 Mumbai attack, to Pakistan following the demand to that effect made by the Pakistan’s interior minister, Mr Rahman Malik, the external affairs minister said, “Late last night I received the six dossiers forwarded by Pakistan, and have not had the time to apply my mind. The decision would naturally be taken after due consultation among the various arms of the government. However, the Kasab trial is in an advanced stage in India. We should complete our own process first before taking a call on other matters.”
A high-level source noted that the dossiers from Islamabad were a response to the material India had sent them earlier, and related to the trial of the Pakistani conspirators of 26/11.
He indicated that “terrorism” was the only issue of substance to talk to the Pakistan Prime Minister about at this stage.
It is understood top Indian officials and ambassadors in the region are unable to grasp the reasons for holding a bilateral meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister at this stage.
Those who deal with Pakistan on a regular basis best understand the futility of engagement at the highest level at the current juncture, sources said.
Asked if agreeing to meet Mr Gilani in Thimpu amounted to Dr Singh accepting the contours of the Pakistani “roadmap” for resumption of the composite dialogue process suspended by India after the attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, a leading source said, “It is too early to go that far. We do need to understand first how far Pakistan wishes to advance the relationship, and whether it is capable of taking the necessary steps.”
The Pakistan “roadmap” was enunciated at a meeting of the foreign secretaries of the two countries on February 25.
It envisaged a meeting between the two Prime Ministers, taking advantage of their presence at the Saarc summit.
Monday, March 22, 2010
LeT behind Kabul attack: India
Stressing that Indians doing reconstruction in Afghanistan are soft targets for terrorists, the external affairs minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, has indicated that the February 26 attack in Kabul that killed seven Indians was the work of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.
Denying that India was being marginalised in the emerging US strategy in Afghanistan at Pakistan’s behest, Mr Krishna said in an interview that the US had never asked New Delhi “directly or indirectly” to reduce its presence in the violence-torn country.
“We have in our interactions with the US administration at various levels not got the impression that the US is trying to convey directly or indirectly to the Indian government that our presence in Afghanistan should be minimised,” Krishna said.
“We have absolutely no evidence otherwise. I think it has been the handiwork of those forces who are out to see that the relationship between India and Afghanistan is jeopardised,” Mr Krishna said on Sunday.
He was replying to a question on whether the attack on Indians was the work of LeT.
“It is for everyone to see that the network that you find operating from the soil of Pakistan — the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the other terrorist outfits and all — they are fused both ideologically and operationally,” he said.
“They cannot come to any other conclusion other than to accept that it was the handiwork of these terrorist organisations,” Mr Krishna said, when asked if the US has accepted that the Kabul attack was perpetrated by the LeT.
Mr Krishna stressed that Indian aid workers in Kabul have become “soft targets” for terrorists. The minister added that there was a warning that Indian missions and volunteers on humanitarian work “are going to be under attack because what India has been doing in Afghanistan is the visible symbol of what India intends to do in building up Afghanistan.
“The Indians who have gone there to Afghanistan on humanitarian purposes are unarmed. So, naturally they become easy targets, soft targets,” Mr Krishna said. The Indian government was taking “some additional measures”, for their protection, he said.
Denying that India was being marginalised in the emerging US strategy in Afghanistan at Pakistan’s behest, Mr Krishna said in an interview that the US had never asked New Delhi “directly or indirectly” to reduce its presence in the violence-torn country.
“We have in our interactions with the US administration at various levels not got the impression that the US is trying to convey directly or indirectly to the Indian government that our presence in Afghanistan should be minimised,” Krishna said.
“We have absolutely no evidence otherwise. I think it has been the handiwork of those forces who are out to see that the relationship between India and Afghanistan is jeopardised,” Mr Krishna said on Sunday.
He was replying to a question on whether the attack on Indians was the work of LeT.
“It is for everyone to see that the network that you find operating from the soil of Pakistan — the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the other terrorist outfits and all — they are fused both ideologically and operationally,” he said.
“They cannot come to any other conclusion other than to accept that it was the handiwork of these terrorist organisations,” Mr Krishna said, when asked if the US has accepted that the Kabul attack was perpetrated by the LeT.
Mr Krishna stressed that Indian aid workers in Kabul have become “soft targets” for terrorists. The minister added that there was a warning that Indian missions and volunteers on humanitarian work “are going to be under attack because what India has been doing in Afghanistan is the visible symbol of what India intends to do in building up Afghanistan.
“The Indians who have gone there to Afghanistan on humanitarian purposes are unarmed. So, naturally they become easy targets, soft targets,” Mr Krishna said. The Indian government was taking “some additional measures”, for their protection, he said.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
India willing to normalise ties with Pakistan: Krishna
India has indicated its willingness to normalise ties with Pakistan following indications that Islamabad is serious about prosecuting the masterminds of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The first step in this direction would be the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s end of the month visit to Rawalpindi to attend a meeting of SAARC Ministers where he could “get a chance to have useful exchanges” with Pakistani leaders in addition to the planned multilateral meetings, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told newspersons accompanying him for a visit to Kuwait.
Taking note of Pakistan’s readiness to accept the lone surviving gunman’s confessional statement as evidence to prosecute the planners of the Mumbai attacks and other evidence with respect to boats used to ferry the attackers from Karachi, Mr. Krishna said India interpreted these as constructive signals. “Any step forward in the direction of Pakistan also investigating the Mumbai attacks will certainly make it easier for India to carry our normalisation of business with Pakistan,” observed Mr. Krishna.
Asked whether India would move in the direction of reviving the composite dialogue if Pakistan continued to show resolve to bring to book its nationals involved in the Mumbai attacks, the Minister felt “India should be quite satisfied with Pakistan taking a few steps to investigate the Mumbai attacks”. He hoped Pakistan would continue to focus its attention on rooting out elements plotting violence in India and termed such an attitude as “extra helpful” to Indo-Pak bilateral relations and dialogue.
The External Affairs Minister had given indications of the possibility of a change in India’s position a day earlier when he said the “doors were not closed” to talks with Pakistan but it should continue to demonstrate its steadfastness to combating anti-India formations.
India had broken off all talks with Pakistan immediately after the Mumbai terror attacks but unlike the rift in bilateral ties after the Parliament House attacks in December 2001, it had not sundered people-to-people and trade links in the hope that the Pakistani leadership would also take the fight against terrorism to its eastern borders with India.
Taking note of Pakistan’s readiness to accept the lone surviving gunman’s confessional statement as evidence to prosecute the planners of the Mumbai attacks and other evidence with respect to boats used to ferry the attackers from Karachi, Mr. Krishna said India interpreted these as constructive signals. “Any step forward in the direction of Pakistan also investigating the Mumbai attacks will certainly make it easier for India to carry our normalisation of business with Pakistan,” observed Mr. Krishna.
Asked whether India would move in the direction of reviving the composite dialogue if Pakistan continued to show resolve to bring to book its nationals involved in the Mumbai attacks, the Minister felt “India should be quite satisfied with Pakistan taking a few steps to investigate the Mumbai attacks”. He hoped Pakistan would continue to focus its attention on rooting out elements plotting violence in India and termed such an attitude as “extra helpful” to Indo-Pak bilateral relations and dialogue.
The External Affairs Minister had given indications of the possibility of a change in India’s position a day earlier when he said the “doors were not closed” to talks with Pakistan but it should continue to demonstrate its steadfastness to combating anti-India formations.
India had broken off all talks with Pakistan immediately after the Mumbai terror attacks but unlike the rift in bilateral ties after the Parliament House attacks in December 2001, it had not sundered people-to-people and trade links in the hope that the Pakistani leadership would also take the fight against terrorism to its eastern borders with India.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
‘US fully alive to dangers in India’s neighbourhood’
The U.S. is “fully alive” to the dangers involved in India’s neighbourhood, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said.
Referring to the meetings U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates had with him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last evening, Krishna said “in sub-total, the impression that we get is that the U.S. is fully alive to the dangers involved in our neighbourhood, particularly because of the intransigence of Pakistan.”
The minister was reacting to a question about Gates’ comments that India’s patience would be “limited” if a Mumbai-type attack recurs as his warning that Lashkar-e-Taiba in league with al-Qaeda could trigger an Indo-Pak armed confrontation to destabilise the region.
