M A I N   N E W S

PM wants peace on borders
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

Moscow, May 8
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has desired that India should come to terms with its neighbours and strive for peace as much as possible on its borders as a policy paradigm.

It is possible for India and Pakistan to reach a mutually acceptable solution on Siachen as both Dr Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf want to reinvigorate the process which assumes significance in the light of the Defence Secretaries of the two countries meeting later this month.

The leaders have also told their Defence Secretaries to “take as liberal a view as possible.”

On the Baglihar issue, there is no deviation on India’s part though New Delhi is making every effort to remove any misgivings in Pakistan either about flooding or drought conditions arising. India is clear and remains committed to the Indus Waters Treaty.

Even as negotiations are taking place outside the normal diplomatic channels to create an environment for resolving seemingly intractable issues between the two countries, when a BSF commandant was killed by the Bangladesh Rifles recently, New Delhi decided to go through the diplomatic route. If Bangladesh is not friendly, it does not mean that India should use the big stick against them.

During union petroleum and natural gas minister Mani Shankar Aiyar’s trip to Islamabad later this month, there are a number of issues on the table, including the gas pipeline from Iran and the initiatives that the two countries can take for energy cooperation. India can supply diesel to Pakistan from the refinery in Panipat.

Even though there is no spurt in infiltration across the LOC, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is active. It is indicated by the activities of the Lashkar-e-Toiba which have not come in the public domain. It is no secret that the ISI is a state within a state. The LeT was banned on May 2 by the United Nations. India has a special relationship with Russia where there are no contentious issues. Essentially Dr Singh has made the trip here as President Vladimir Putin was very particular.

Russia is keen to help India on the nuclear front though the issue has so many caveats. The reactors will come up once the legislation comes in place in India sometime next week as all nuclear states are wary of proliferation taking place. The proposed legislation will take care of that.

Even though King Gyanendra has lifted the emergency in Nepal and released certain political leaders, India is waiting to see what other substantive steps are taken in Kathmandu including lifting the curbs on the media. New Delhi wants the King to bring round the political parties to meet the challenges faced by the Himalayan kingdom.

India’s ability to assist Nepal will depend on its return to constitutional monarchy and multi party democracy coupled with evolving a broad national and political consensus in that country. As a friendly country, New Delhi has advised Kathmandu to move forward in this regard. It is necessary for India to remain engaged. India insists it has to keep close tabs to see that the changes are not cosmetic and that more substantive steps will be taken.

Even as the Manmohan Singh government is willing to accommodate the ULFA, it is very anxious to settle the Naga issue which is a complex problem. The UPA government’s sincerity in tackling the Naga issue should not be doubted. There are issues about which both sides feel strongly. 

Manmohan meets Central Asian leaders
Tribune News Service

Moscow, May 8
Tajikistan and Kazakhstan have urged India to play a greater role in the development of Central Asia even as they reaffirmed their support to India’s candidature for a seat in the reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council.

Tajiskistan President Emomali Rahmonov and Kazakhstan Pressident Nursultan Nazabayev desired enlarging economic cooperation in a wide variety of areas like energy, particularly hydro power, infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, and information technology.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in separate 45-minute meetings with the two Central Asian leaders, emphasised that India had enough expertise in the generation of hydro-energy and offered joint ventures in pharmaceuticals and information technology.

Mr Rahmonov apprised Dr Singh about the situation in Afghanistan and sought greater assistance in the reconstruction of Afghanistan along with steps to prevent fundamentalism and terrorism in that country.

The Prime Minister assured Mr Rahmanov that he would see India took major steps forward in enlarging economic cooperation with Central Asia in the next few years.

Mr Nazabayev told Dr Singh that there were immense opportunities for Indian business to invest in Kazakhstan.