M A I N   N E W S

India’s concerns over Kabul won’t be overlooked: US
K V Prasad/TNS

New Delhi, June 24
As India remains concerned over the impact of US talks with Taliban granting it legitimacy, Washington today assured that New Delhi’s apprehensions will not be overlooked, emphasising that discussion with the insurgent group will take place only after conditions are met.

In a move to smoothen ruffled feathers here, the visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry announced its Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbin will be here on Wednesday to brief Indian officials. Ambassador Dobbin visited Qatar last week, days after Taliban opened an office in Oman, a move that irked Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

In order to provide further momentum to the expanding bilateral ties, US Vice President Joe Biden will pay a visit during late July, Kerry said after co-chairing with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid the fourth round of India-United States Strategic Dialogue that covered key issues of security, defence, nuclear cooperation and trade relations.

At a joint press conference, Khurshid said the proposed talks with Taliban “is an experiment that is being done in order to find an alternative for sustainable peace in Afghanistan” and there cannot be disagreement with issues or dimension which are of concern to India. He said Kerry assured him that New Delhi’s concern would neither be “overlooked or undermined”.

Responding to questions, Kerry was categorical that talks with the Taliban will be held only after certain conditions were met and even then these would be conducted with the Afghan High Peace Council.

Echoing the concept of ‘red lines’ that India refers to, Kerry said the requirement includes respect for the Constitution of Afghanistan, dissociation from Al-Qaeda and violence and respect for the rights of women and the minorities. “Now, that is not going to change. If it is required to be changed, obviously there will be no agreement,” Kerry added.

Kerry felt India can play a role when elections are held in Afghanistan next month and that New Delhi will encourage President Karzai to be prepared for the polls and assist the country in the form of equipment and technical assistance. The hallmark for elections should be transparency and accountability. Besides, these should be free and fair.

The statement assumes importance following reports doubting the process leading to re-election of President Karzai against his rival Dr Abdullah Abdullah.

On Iran, the US appreciated that India has reduced its dependence on oil from the country. Suggesting that Washington would depend on New Delhi to convey to new Iranian leadership not to take “advantage of the moment” and Tehran does not miscalculate its attitude as well as those of Russia, China and the UN.

On internet snooping and civil liberties, Kerry defended the US Government programme.

Strategic Dialogue: where the two sides stand

H1B & L category visas

India concerned over high visa costs and problems, especially affecting the IT sector

US promises to do whatever possible as it is a matter of legislation

India says need to factor in concerns of both sides

Security & Defence sector

India and the US agree on the need to go beyond buyer-seller relations

To include defence co-develop and co-manufacturing and widen defence trade and industry collaboration

Both sides plan fresh round of whole-of-government cyber security consultations

Washington and New Delhi to cooperate missions to recover remains of US service members from World War II

Cooperation in energy sector

• Two energy sector grants in Shale gas and Smart Grid and a contract reflecting US industry’s interest in the sector
• US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grants $588,685 to Deep Industry Limited for a feasibility study to develop shale gas/oil; concludes $692,000 grant with Central Power Research Institute for a detailed document to implement the Smart Grid Test Bed project in Bangalore
• Contract inked between Reliance Infrastructure and Innovari to develop a demand side management pilot power project to manage peak demand with its commercial and industrial customers and efficiently utilise power generation, transmission and distribution