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Delhi’s dilemma: Playing host to Hillary, Iranian team together
Ashok Tuteja & Subhrangshu Gupta
Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Kolkata, May 6
India finds itself walking a tightrope as it simultaneously hosts US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and an Iranian trade delegation seeking to circumvent tough American sanctions that have badly hit the economy of the Islamic republic.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at an ICCR function in Kolkata on Sunday
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at an ICCR function in Kolkata on Sunday. — PTI

Hillary is expected to discuss civil nuclear cooperation, regional security and Iran, with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna during their meeting here on Tuesday.

Though the two countries don’t see eye to eye on dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue, the Indian side is expected to brief Clinton about steps taken by New Delhi to persuade Indian companies to cut down Iranian oil imports. In the past few months, there has been a steady decrease in Indian oil imports from Iran.

The US, in March, granted exemptions to Japan and 10 European Union nations from sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran to end its nuclear programme. India is hoping that it too might get exemption now that it is reducing its dependence on Tehran for meeting its oil requirements.

However, the presence of a more than 50-strong trade delegation in New Delhi around the same time when Clinton will be meeting Indian leaders could put India in an unenviable position.

Clinton arrived in Kolkata today on a two-day visit in line with her decision to visit at least one Indian state during her visits to this country. She had visited Tamil Nadu during her last trip to India.

Clinton today met delegates of business and diplomatic communities, attended cultural functions and also talked to several other dignitaries for developing better friendship and exploring more possibilities of economic ties between the two countries.

Tomorrow, Clinton will hold talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on a variety of issues, including FDI in retail. She is expected to ask Banerjee, one of the most vocal critics of FDI, to reconsider her opposition to the FDI proposal.

Sources said the two could also discuss the US proposals for investing in West Bengal since the cash-strapped state is in dire need of funds. Significantly, Clinton’s delegation is said to include senior representatives of American companies.

However, it is too early to say if the US Secretary of State will succeed in her mission, given Mamata’s pro-poor image and her vehement opposition to the FDI proposal. Her dilemma is obvious: If she agrees with Clinton’s proposal, the Left parties in the state will not spare her, given the hostility between the political forces in the state.

Since she has come to India from Bangladesh, the speculation is that Clinton may also take up with Mamata the Teesta water issue. An agreement on the Teesta water sharing between India and Bangladesh had to be put on hold in September last year due to Mamata’s opposition.

After talks with Banerjee, Clinton will fly to New Delhi tomorrow evening and call on PM Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. She will have detailed talks with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Tuesday. She will also meet Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj before leaving the Indian capital.

The meeting between Clinton and Indian leaders gains significance as it comes immediately after her high-level talks in China and ahead of the crucial NATO summit in Chicago, where some important decisions are expected to be made on Afghanistan.

“The entire gamut of bilateral relationship apart from all those issues which impinge on the Indo-US partnership will be discussed,” an official source said. In the context of regional security, New Delhi is expected to brief the US Secretary of State on its proposed regional investors’ meet in June to discuss economic development of Afghanistan.

Piquant situation

* India simultaneously hosts US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and an Iranian trade delegation seeking to circumvent tough American sanctions.

* The sanctions have badly hit the economy of the Islamic republic.

* In the past few months, there has been a steady decrease in Indian oil imports from Iran.

* The Indian side is expected to brief Hillary about steps taken by New Delhi to persuade Indian companies to cut down Iranian oil imports.

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