[1]Ahead of his landmark visit starting this weekend, US President Barack Obama on Wednesday described India as a “cornerstone” of America’s engagement in Asia, but held out no assurances on key issues — support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council and ending curbs on export of dual-use technology.
Outlining the objectives of his three-day maiden trip from Saturday, Mr Obama said that building “a true strategic partnership” with India had been one of his “highest foreign policy priorities” since he assumed office in January last year.
The visit would give him an opportunity to work with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bring Indo-US cooperation on a broad range of issues “to a new level”, he told PTI in an interview.
The Indo-US partnership “is based on both our shared values and our shared interests, and for these reasons, I welcome and support India’s rise as a global power”, the President said.
India’s rise “is in the best interests of both the countries (India and US), of the region and the world”, he said.
The President answered a wide range of questions covering contentious issues like US curbs on export of dual-use technology items, outsourcing,
UNSC membership and Pakistan’s failure to take action against the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks.
Asked about the possibility of his announcing lifting of curbs on export of dual-use technology items and more concrete support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council, Mr Obama described the two issues as “very difficult and complicated”.
“Our teams continue to work hard to reach an agreement that strengthens the international non-proliferation system while treating India in a manner that is consistent with our strategic partnership,” he said in a reference to export restrictions that cover items which have both peaceful and military usage.
Without committing himself to a firmer support for India’s bid for permanent seat in the UNSC, Mr Obama said: “I do also expect to discuss India’s role as an actor on the global stage during my visit.”
When told that there did not seem to be any “big ticket items” on the agenda, Mr Obama responded: “I do not want to pre-empt the announcements that the Prime Minister and I will make while I am in India. I think you can expect a series of announcements on how we are going to deepen and broaden our cooperation on a range of things that will have a direct and very positive impact on millions of people both in India and the United States.
“There will be big items on the agenda, and — just as important — I believe that we will build an even stronger foundation for the US-India partnership going forward.”
The President went on to emphasise that Indo-US relationship “now goes well beyond any one particular issue”. He said: “If you look at the breadth of everything we are working on now — from economic engagement to counter-terrorism and security cooperation, from clean energy to development ... It goes well beyond the type of cooperation that we pursued just a few years ago.”
All this indicated “the enormously positive trajectory of US-India relations”, Mr Obama said.
Outlining his vision of the relationship between the two countries, the President said: “My vision is a US-India partnership in which we work together to shape a more secure, stable, and just world. My visit gives me an opportunity to experience firsthand your fascinating country, discuss issues of mutual concern with my friend Prime Minister Singh, and work with him to bring our cooperation on a broad range of issues to a new level.
“It is also important that I am visiting India as the first stop on a major trip to Asia, as I see India as a cornerstone of America’s engagement in Asia, just as it is fundamental to our engagement in multilateral forums like the G-20.
“To me, the US and India share an indispensable partnership, one that has benefits for both our countries and the world.”
Answering the criticism that Washington had not “leaned enough” on Pakistan to deal with terrorism emanating from its soil, Mr Obama said the US had taken every opportunity to make it clear to Pakistan that “confronting violent extremism of all sorts is in its own interests and in the interest of regional stability.”
On the Mumbai attacks, he said Pakistan should fulfil its stated commitments to bring to justice those responsible
for terrorism. “Since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, we have told the Pakistani
government that they have an international responsibility to cooperate to bring the perpetrators to justice, and that there is a special responsibility to do so transparently, fully and urgently.”
Mr Obama described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “one of the most extraordinary leaders” he had met and said he greatly valued the Indian leader’s “friendship, wisdom and decency”.
“From our very first conversation in London, I have found that the Prime Minister and I share many of the same values, the same goals and the same vision for the well-being of our people.” Saying that he and his wife Michelle were both excited to go to India, Mr Obama remarked: “One of the great joys of my visit to India is the opportunity to see the Prime Minister again.”
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