US President Barack Obama's National Security Strategy provides a striking contrast between how the US views India and Pakistan -- the former as a rising global power and the latter as the epicentre of global terrorism.

The 52-page document, released on Thursday, says the US and India are building a strategic partnership that is underpinned by shared interests and shared values as the world's two largest democracies and the close contacts between its people.

The document is also a sharp departure from George W. Bush's 2006 paper, which focused on the war on terror and began by saying, "America is at war."

The Obama strategy says the effort against radical extremism is "only one element of our strategic environment and cannot define America's engagement with the world."

The document heaps praise on India. “India’s responsible advancement serves as a positive example for developing nations, and provides an opportunity for increased economic, scientific, environmental, and security partnership,” it says and adds, “Working together through our Strategic Dialogue and high-level visits, we seek a broad-based relationship in which India contributes to global counterterrorism efforts, nonproliferation, and helps promote poverty-reduction, education, health, and sustainable agriculture."

Foreign Minister S M Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be leading high-level teams at a strategic dialogue in Washington next week.

The Obama administration and India completed negotiations on an agreement to reprocess spent nuclear fuel of US origin six months before schedule. However, a stalled liability bill in New Delhi is viewed with frustration by many in Washington who see it as an obstacle to a financial windfall for US companies that are champing at the bit to begin nuclear trade with India.

Underscoring US commitment to its relationship with India, the strategy document says the US values India's growing leadership on a wide array of global issues, through groups such as the G-20, and will seek to work with India to promote stability in South Asia and elsewhere in the world.

The paper clubs India with China and Russia, and describes all three as key 21st century centres of influence. It notes that the US seeks to build "deeper and more effective partnerships" with these countries so that "we can cooperate on issues of bilateral and global concern, with the recognition that power, in an interconnected world, is no longer a zero sum game." It says these relationships will be based on mutual interests and mutual respect. Certain bilateral relationships -- such as US relations with China, India, and Russia — will be critical to building broader cooperation on areas of mutual interest, it adds. The tone of the document is significantly different while discussing US commitment to Pakistan.

It calls Pakistan and Afghanistan the epicentre of the violent extremism practised by the Al-Qaida. The document goes on to describe Pakistan and Afghanistan as the frontline in the fight against the Al-Qaida and Taliban.

"We are supporting the security and prosperity of our partners in Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a broader campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat the Al-Qaida and its violent extremist affiliates," the paper says, adding, "Al-Qaida’s core in Pakistan remains the most dangerous component of the larger network."

"The danger from this region will only grow if its security slides backward, the Taliban controls large swaths of Afghanistan, and the Al-Qaida is allowed to operate with impunity. To prevent future attacks on the United States, our allies, and partners, we must work with others to keep the pressure on the Al-Qaida and increase the security and capacity of our partners in this region.... Within Pakistan, we are working with the government to address the local, regional, and global threat from violent extremists," it says.

The US' relationship with Pakistan comes at a steep price. The US has poured billions of dollars into Pakistan and is committed to continuing such assistance. Obama has already signed a Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill that authorises $1.5 billion in non-military assistance to the Pakistani people every year over the next five years. Besides this, on the military side, the US has provided $238 million in "Foreign Military Financing" for fiscal year 2010 and last year initiated a "special counterinsurgency assistance fund" for $1.1 billion. The US has also reimbursed Pakistan $1.3 billion in 2010 for military expenses Pakistan incurred in 2008 and 2009 under the "Coalition Support Funds" programme.

Kathmandu, May 28
Nepal’s ruling alliance and the main Opposition Maoists inched closer to a deal to avert a political crisis following the failure to draft a new constitution by Parliament, whose term expires today.

Even as the main Opposition CPN-Maoist and the 22-party ruling alliance continued to hold onto each other’s earlier stance, a ray of hope to end the deadlock has arisen as both sides have come closer to a deal, according to highly placed sources.

With barely hours left for the term of the Constituent Assembly to end, the top leaders of UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are currently holding key talks to ink a deal to extend its term.

Nepal’s ruling coalition last week introduced a bill in the 601-Assembly to extend the term of the House for one year so that it can finish the task of framing a new constitution.

CPN-Maoist party, with nearly 35 percent of the parliamentary seats, have refused to cooperate in extending the term of the Assembly till Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal quits.

The Maoists have asked the ruling alliance for a timebound agreement for the PM’s resignation, party sources said.

The 22-party ruling coalition has asked the Maoists to reach a timebound agreement to manage their combatants, dissolve the paramilitary structure of the the Young Communist and to return properties seized during the decade-long civil war in the country.

Some understanding might be reached before the deadline expires, sources claimed.

However, the crucial Parliament session has been delayed as the parties were still busy in negotiating a deal. After the deal is finalise the Prime Minister is supposed to address the Parliament, whose term expires tonight. — PTI

Beijing, May 28
China today raised the "activities" of the Dalai Lama with President Pratibha Patil and sought a reiteration of India's stand that Tibet is a part of it, striking a somewhat discordant note in her discussions which have otherwise been described as "fruitful." Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who is ranked fourth in the Chinese leadership hierarchy, brought up these issues during his meeting with Patil, a day after her discussions with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao at which no such issue was raised.

Downplaying the episode, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that the Chinese had sought reiteration of India's stand on Tibet and an assurance that anti-China activities are not permitted on the Indian soil.

"It often happens that in course of discussions between India and China all issues are raised.... It is a complex relationship", she told reporters, adding that there were many issues on which the two sides have sought "greater awareness of each other's concerns".

The 70-year-old Jia, who presides over the 2196-strong CPPCC, regarded as China's top political advisory body, described the Dalai Lama as more of a political leader than a spiritual figure. Patil had called the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader who stays in India.

On Tibet, Patil is believed to have told Jia that India regards Tibet Autonomous Region as a part of China and it does not allow any anti-China activities by Tibetans based in India.

The President is believed to have cited the example of the passage of the Olympic torch through India ahead of the Beijing Olympics two years ago when the government had taken steps to ensure that nothing untoward happened.

Later, at her first public speech during her six-day State Visit, Patil sent a subtle but clear message to this country's leadership saying "mutual understanding of each other's sensitivities" held the key to "deeper and sturdier friendship" between the two Asian giants. — PTI