M A I N   N E W S

Jaswant: USA must review S. Asia policy

WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (PTI) — India has urged the USA to re-examine its South Asia policy in the wake of a sea change in relations between the two countries as a result of President Bill Clinton and premier Atal Behari Vajpayee visits to each other’s country.

“New Indo-US relations call for a re-examination of US South Asia policy,” External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said at a lunch hosted by former American Secretary of State George Shultz yesterday.

He praised Mr Clinton for his “superior statesmanship and ability and courage to reach out to India and discover a new bond”.

Mr Jaswant Singh said there was tremendous potential for cooperation between India and the USA in the economic field and various other areas such as human resources and information technology.

There was also potential for cooperation on combating terrorism, he said.

Enhanced economic ties between the two countries formed an essential component of bilateral relations, he said.

Given the global situation today, the two nations had to involve themselves together, he said.

“Whether it is global security or cooperation in the fields of energy or science and technology, there is need for continuity, stability and confidence,” he said, adding that healthy Indo-US relations could go a long way in ensuring global welfare.

The scope of relations between the two countries went beyond bilateral parameters, the minister said, recalling Mr Clinton’s statement that India and the USA were not only natural allies but also had common enemies.