Washington, February 25
Just days ahead of his visit to India, US President George W. Bush has said “there’s still work to be done” on the hard, tough and difficult issue of implementing the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy deal, but assured New Delhi that he would take up with Pakistan the question of the dismantling of terrorist camps.The nuclear issue was going to be “tough” and “hard” as he and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to “convince” their respective people on the need for having a bilateral cooperation on a programme that would be separate from a military programme in India, Mr Bush said in an interview to Doordarshan here yesterday.
“Well, it’s a tough issue. It’s a tough issue for the Prime Minister, I understand that, and it’s a tough issue for me. I knew it was going to be a hard issue, because we have to convince — both of us have to convince our respective people it’s in the interest to have a civilian nuclear programme supported by the US and India, as well as a civilian nuclear programme.
“And I understood the politics was going to be difficult, and there is still work to be done. We’ve just got to continue to come up with an agreement that both of us can live with,” Mr Bush said.
“Well, I tell them it’s in the interests of the world that India have a nuclear power industry. On the other hand, it’s also very important for India to understand our concerns about making sure that the civilian programme is separate from the military, and there’s the IAEA safeguards.”
Meanwhile, a report from Islamabad said Mr Bush would use his trip to India to urge the leadership to continue solving the Kashmir issue for which “there’s got to be a tangible process”.
In an interview to PTV in Washington on the eve of his visit to Pakistan, he said he believed a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue could be achieved. “There’s a temptation sometimes for countries to try to jump in the middle of dialogue. I’ve seen the progress that’s been made in the relationship from when I first became President. Now, all of a sudden, there are some very encouraging signs — new transportation opportunities, trade. In just my discussions with both President and the Prime Minister, there appears to be a different attitude.”
— UNI
