As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh heads for a four-day visit to Seoul on Saturday morning, a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit appears to be almost a certainty now.
The Pakistani side is hopeful that the meeting between the two PMs will come about while maintaining that progress has been made in the peace process. India, on its part, has stated time and again that it is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with its neighbour through dialogue for the sake of peace and prosperity. However, it wants to have “an environment that is free of terror or the threat of terror for ties between the two nations to move forward in a meaningful manner”.
At the summit itself, the PM will share with world leaders a national report on what needs to be done to enhance nuclear safety and security. The PM’s departure statement has also stressed on “India’s continuing support for a world free of nuclear weapons”.
In an indication, perhaps, towards the public opposition seen by the upcoming Koodankulam and Jaitapur nuclear power projects in India, the PM’s statement said that “to retain public support for harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy, we must be able to assure them of the highest levels of nuclear security and safety.”
Indeed, the PM noted that while India is expanding its nuclear power programme to diversify its energy mix and enhance energy security, safety and security are “even more important” after the Fukushima nuclear melt-down in Japan in March 2011.
The PM also said that the threat posed by nuclear terrorism “remains a continuing concern” and hoped that the Seoul summit will steps “to enhance the global nuclear security architecture”.
Prior to his participation in the summit, Dr Singh will be on a bilateral visit to Seoul during which New Delhi will be hoping to forge even closer ties with the South Koreans as part of its “Look East” policy. The two countries enjoy strong ties especially in the economic field.
“Our economic relationship anchors our strong ties,” said foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai earlier this week. In the last two years, bilateral trade has grown 65 per cent to reach $20.5 billion in 2011.
Two agreements are also on the anvil during the PM’s Seoul visit.
It’s not clear yet if the Indian PM will be meeting US President Barack Obama who too will be participating in the nuclear summit. On the other hand, the Pakistan PM’s office announced on Friday that Mr Gilani will be meeting Mr Obama on March 27 on the summit’s sidelines.