NEW DELHI, NOV 8
President Barack Obama on Monday wound up his visit with the announcement of broad support to India’s bid for permanent seat in the UN Security Council and offering to play “any role” in reducing Indo-Pak tensions, an euphemism for Kashmir which has been a sensitive issue.
Indo-Pak tensions came up during talks Obama had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who expressed readiness to engage with Pakistan but made it clear that there can be no dialogue till Islamabad ends “terror-induced coercion”.
During the 75-minute meeting in the Hyderabad House on packed day of events, Singh and Obama agreed on a number of new initiatives, including cooperation on internal security, removal of Indian companies from the US sanctions’ list and setting up of a research centre in India in civil nuclear field.
Obama, who struck the right chord with the Indian political and business leaders, made the most-awaited announcement when he spoke to MPs backing India’s quest for permanent membership of a “reformed” UNSC in the “years ahead”.
The announcement, which was greeted by thunderous applause by the gathering, was tempered with his suggestions for what India should do to fulfill its increased responsibility that comes with increased power.
His message was clear that India should speak up on issues like human rights violations in Myanmar and implement sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
“Indeed, the just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate.”
“That is why I can say today in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,” he said in his speech in Parliament.
Recalling the terror attack on Parliament and Mumbai attacks, Obama said the US would continue to insist to Pakistan’s leaders that “terrorist safe heavens within their borders are unacceptable and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attack should be brought to justice.”
Earlier, addressing a joint press conference with Singh, Obama said Kashmir was a “longstanding dispute” between the two countries and that he believed both have interest in reducing tensions.
Emphasising that the US “cannot impose” solution to this problem, he said he has “indicated” to Singh that “we are happy to play any role the parties think is appropriate to reducing these tensions that is in interest of the region, the two countries and the United States.”
Hoping that “conversations” between India and Pakistan would start over the “next several months and years”, Obama said the dialogue may not start on that “particular flash point” (of Kashmir) but other issues like confidence-building measures to enable the two countries to focus on range of their challenges and opportunities.
On his part, Singh said India was committed to engaging with Pakistan to resolving all outstanding issues, “including the word-K (Kashmir). We are not afraid of that.”
“But it is our request is that you cannot simultaneously be talking and at the same time the terror machine (in Pakistan) is active as ever before. Once Pakistan moves away from terror-induced coercion, we will be very happy to engage productively with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues.”
Singh noted that he had always maintained that a “strong, peaceful and moderate” Pakistan is in the interest of India, South Asia and the world as a whole.
Obama commended Singh’s “sincere and relentless desire”, expressed “publicly and privately”, to pursue peace with Pakistan and hope the two countries would “find mechanisms that will be appropriate” to reduce tensions.
Speaking elaborately on growing Indo-US ties in various aspects, the President said the relationship is “indispensable” in addressing trade-economic opportunities and confronting challenges like terrorism, violent extremism and spread of nuclear weapons.
He also announced the US decision to remove Indian organisations from the “so-called Entities List”, implying that companies like the DRDO, BARC and Bharat Dynamics Limited, ISRO would be able to have cooperation with the American firms.
The two leaders also discussed implementation of civil nuclear agreement and cooperation in clean technology.
Obama also announced India’s decision to buy 10 C-17 cargo planes that will create 22,000 jobs in the US.
The two leaders also discussed ways to reduce trade barriers, with Singh underlining that any protectionist tendency would not be beneficial for both the countries.
Obama noted that he had decided to visit India for three days which is the longest time he had spent in any country after becoming the President.
Maintaining that relationship with India is important for the US, he said, “don’t take my words, look at my actions”.
