M A I N   N E W S

India tells USA to rein in Pakistan
Rajeev Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 7
India today conveyed two things directly to the United States — neither being music to ears of the “strategic partner”. New Delhi forthrightly told Washington that the imposition of American sanctions on two Indian firms was “not justified” and the international community needed to do more to make Pakistan deliver on its January 6, 2004, promise to dismantle all infrastructure of terror from within Pakistan or Pakistan-controlled territories.

The twin messages were given to the visiting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Mr Richard Boucher, during his official talks with Indian diplomats. Mr Boucher’s main interaction was with his Indian counterpart, Joint Secretary (Americas) Dr S Jaishanker and the two talked for nearly 150 minutes. Mr Boucher also met Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Joint Secretary (Eurasia), Dr J Bhagwati, separately for half an hour each.

On his part, Mr Boucher told the Indian officials that the US-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement was on track and moving swiftly towards conclusion - something which he chose to say on record at a FICCI business meeting as well.

Mr Boucher, however, reiterated Washington’s concerns on Iran and suggested using Afghanistan as a transit route to source energy from Central Asia, particularly Turkmenistan.

During the routine bilateral consultations — the last round having taken place in Washington in June when Dr Jaishanker flew there — the two sides reviewed the follow-up action to the March 2, 2006, and July 18, 2005, Joint Statements. The MEA spokesman said the two sides noted that considerable progress had been made on economic, trade, agriculture, energy, science and technology and defence cooperation areas outlined in those statements.

The MEA also gave out a strongly-worded statement, timing it with Mr Boucher’s talks with Indian diplomats, on the issue of American sanctions on two Indian firms, Balaji Amines and Prachi Poly Products.