HomeIndiaInterview of External Affairs Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha with Khaleej Times

Interview of External Affairs Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha with Khaleej Times

Hand of friendship is still far away

NEW DELHI – Indian Minister for External Affairs Yashwant Sinha has just completed a year in office. He is busy giving a fresh impetus to India’s foreign policy objectives. In an exclusive interview to Khaleej Times, Mr Sinha talked about how India and the UAE are cooperating closely in countering the challenges of terrorism and transnational crime; India’s global initiatives vis-à-vis terrorism supported morally and financially by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. Following are the excerpts of the interview.

Khaleej Times: Let’s start with Indo-Pak peace process which is keenly watched the world over. When India talks of trade, Pakistan says Kashmir. Where do you see the peace process going?
Yashwant Sinha: Let me tell you that many positive developments have taken place in recent weeks, including non-official visits by parliamentarians from both sides, a visit by a large business delegation from Pakistan to India and significantly, the resumption of the Delhi-Lahore-Delhi bus service and the high commissioners of both countries have reached their destinations. As I have said on other occasions, we are not discouraged by the negative trends and intend to build upon the positive ones. We will persist and pursue our initiative aimed at building friendly and peaceful ties with Pakistan. This process of restoring normalcy in bilateral relations may be a slow and difficult process, but we are encouraged by the tremendous resonance generated by our efforts amongst the people and civil society in Pakistan.

KT: There have been statements by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Jammu and Kashmir being the core issue that needs to be discussed first. What is India’s position on this?
YS: It is true that we were deeply disappointed by some of the comments made by President Musharraf, especially his comments on Kargil and the implication that military adventurism of that nature is a legitimate instrument for furthering Pakistan’s designs on Jammu and Kashmir. President Musharraf also totally denied the significance and impact of the universally acknowledged success of the elections in J&K. We have often heard the Pakistani side claim that the issue of J&K is the core issue between India and Pakistan. This so-called core issue seems to have attained a position of prominence in Pakistani official circles only in the decade of the 90s. I do not wish to delve too much into the background, but it is clear to us that Pakistan would need to deal with its inherently negative approach towards India. If there is any core issue between India and Pakistan, it would have to be Pakistan’s negativity and hostility towards India.

KT: But how has this negativity and hostility affected Indo-Pak ties?

YS: It is this negativity that has prevented the bilateral relationship from achieving its positive potential despite several initiatives from the Indian side. We have seen comments by Pakistan’s prime minister published in the Pakistani media supporting the idea of a step-by-step approach to rebuilding confidence between the two countries. He has been quoted as saying that we have to pave a way to come to the ‘core issue’. We in India also believe that given the history of bitterness between India and Pakistan, we need to follow an approach that helps develop mutual trust and confidence before addressing the difficult issues.

KT: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to visit Pakistan to attend Saarc meeting. Do you think an official-level discussion between India and Pakistan is possible during that period?
YS: India is a committed member of Saarc. Saarc summits are an integral part of the Saarc process. In fact, summit meetings, at the levels of heads of state and government are at the pinnacle of the Saarc process, which is an ongoing process. Like all members, India looks forward to such events. We are happy at the consensus in the standing committee on Saarc on the entire package of issues including the dates for the next summit. The standing committee has also stressed the urgent need for finalising the draft framework treaty on creating a free trade area i.e. Safta, before the next summit. The committee has also agreed as far as Sapta (South Asia Preferential Trade Agreement) is concerned to recommend the launching of the fifth round of trade negotiations under Sapta. There was also an agreement to hold a succession of meetings of committee of experts to make sure that both on the Safta framework and trade facilitation measures concrete progress is made before the next summit. India looks forward to progress in all these issues before the Saarc summit as decided in the standing committee and also to participating in the summit.

KT: What about an official level discussion between India and Pakistan taking place during the Saarc summit in Islamabad?
YS: Well, it is too early to speak about the possibility of official level discussions during the summit. We continue to monitor the ground situation vis-ˆ-vis cross-border infiltration and infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as also Pakistan’s response to the steps taken by us in pursuit of Mr Vajpayee’s peace initiative. Further steps and developments would depend on our assessment of the ground situation. Unfortunately, infiltration from across the Line of Control and cross-border terrorism from Pakistan continues. There cannot be meaningful dialogue at any level if such attacks continue to take place.

KT: How do you rate India’s relations with the United States? Washington has commended Islamabad for their support in the global-war against terrorism. What is India’s stand on this?
YS: I believe that we are making good progress towards our shared goal of transforming India-US relations and developing a strategic partnership. Our dialogue is at an unprecedented level and characterised by a high degree of cordiality, warmth and candour. We have developed good political understanding on a range of regional and international issues. Economic and technological relations are showing new dynamism. Defence cooperation is developing well. The US has its own good reasons for its assessment on Pakistan’s cooperation on terrorism. I can only comment on our perception. We believe that Pakistan’s links with terrorism have not ended. Since terrorism is not a divisible commodity, it is difficult to imagine how Pakistan can fully cooperate in the global war on terrorism without ending cross-border terrorism against India and dismantling its infrastructure of support in Pakistan.

KT: Pakistan has often talked of third-party mediation on Kashmir? Even UK recently seems to support the stand, saying third-party mediation was not a bad idea after all?
YS: India believes in a policy of bilateralism in addressing bilateral issues with Pakistan in keeping with the (spirit of) Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. It has been our experience that third parties bring along their own agenda to the table. India and Pakistan are well conversant with each other’s positions and views. We do not need any third party mediation.

KT: How do you see India’s rise in the new world order? Do you think India is facing a challenge in bringing forth its perspective on terrorism globally? Despite so many countries talking against terrorism, not many are willing to come on one platform and wipe out the scourge.
YS: India values diversity and plurality. We believe in efforts towards a multi-polar world with diverse centres of power, influence and also perspectives. India has its role, its aspirations and its own perspectives in such a world order. Our growing engagement with a number of countries and regions of the world is a testimony to this facet. Concerning terrorism, India has been for long a victim of terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism. After September 11 and other major terrorist incidents in different parts of the world – Russia, Bali, Riyadh, Africa – the world today accords higher priority to counter terrorism, a point that we had been making for some time.

We have put across our view on the menace of terrorism and on the aspect of cross-border terrorism that we face. Today there is a greater appreciation of India’s point of view. It is true that action concerning combating terrorism does not fully match the rhetoric. Nevertheless, we must recognise that there is greater international will to address this issue. It is incumbent on all countries today, without exception, to take resolute action on their own soil to prevent terrorism. No cause can justify it: political, religious, ideological or any other.

KT: India has exceptionally good ties with Iran and Afghanistan. What is India’s agenda, and why do you think the region is so important for India?
YS: India has nurtured historical ties of friendship and cooperation with Afghanistan and Iran. With Iran, our common cultural affinity and civilisational heritage provides strong impulses for strengthening our cooperation in modern times. India greatly values its relationship with Iran, not only as our extended neighbour but also as an important country in our region, which can play a positive role in ensuring regional peace and stability. We have had regular high level political exchanges between the two countries: Prime Minister Vajpayee visited Iran in April 2001, and President Khatami was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade this year.

Several important documents, including a Road Map on Strategic Cooperation and New Delhi Declaration were signed during President Khatami’s visit. Other important areas of bilateral interaction include cooperation in the field of energy, wide-ranging trade and economic cooperation through the mechanism of the joint commission, and cultural cooperation.

KT: What about Afghanistan?
YS: India and Afghanistan have also had close and regular contacts through the ebb and flow of history. India has always had a wide ranging cooperation with Afghanistan. In the post-November 2001 phase, India was one of the first countries to have come out with a concrete plan for reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan. The prime minister announced a grant of US$100 million for various reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. Out of this amount, US$31.5 million has already been operational in various projects in the fields of education, health, public transport and civil aviation. We have also committed to supply one million tonnes of wheat as humanitarian assistance. Our assistance has also included, training of 500 Afghans in various fields; supply of 274 buses and gifting of three aircraft. India fully supports the government of President Karzai, who had also visited India in March this year. Our only desire is to see that Afghanistan emerges as a strong, united and independent country in our region.

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