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The catastrophic terrorist attack on the US has jolted the world community to the depredations of the scourge that India has long suffered. The US has finally turned the heat on its long-time ally turned problem-state, whose espousal of separatist causes has in many ways led to the growth of terrorism. Wisdom appears to have dawned on Washington - at a terrible cost. In this exclusive interview, India's external affairs and defence minister Jaswant Singh talks to Chidanand Rajghatta about the compact between India and US against the menace of terrorism:
Q. What has been the kind of contacts
with the US administration after the tragedy?
A. We have been in contact at all
operational, executive and political levels that are necessary, following
the grisly visitation of this tragedy.
Q. Has secretary of state Powell
spoken to you or have you called him?
A. Secretary Powell very much wanted
to talk to me, but because of the time difference and their preoccupations
there we haven't been able to speak. We have been in contact through diplomatic
channels, through the embassy here (ambassador Robert Blackwill had just
called on him).
Q. I asked because he has been calling
up foreign ministers of various countries.
A. The calling up is only where
the US needs to call. We shouldn't be worried about formalities. The quality
of relationship between United States and India has been transformed beyond
recognition. We do not need to stand on formalities. Between April and
September there have been more high-level visits from the United States
to India than at any other time and possibly to any other country. In this
period our fields of cooperation have extended to the political, economic
and military spheres. We are in constant contact.
Q. Does this mean if the US asks
us for operational help or a staging area for a military strike, we will
offer it? Has the US asked for such help?
A. This is a highly sensitive area.
So you will understand if I don't go into details. The prime minister's
letter to President Bush is explicit enough when he talks of cooperation
in investigations and every other sense. Don't ask me about details.
Q. Would it be fair to say that
if the US asks for operational help, it will be provided?
A. Yes. The tragedy has imparted
to what was already a solid foundation, real operation content of cooperating
with each other.
Q. What does this incident demonstrate
in the light of India's own experience with terrorism?
A. I don't want to go into any
kind of stock taking and this is no occasion for stock taking of the past.
But let me say this. We have felt that the sweep of terrorism is global
- it is 360 degrees. We have not and we will not in the future consider
this as any kind of clash of civilisation or a religious act. Because terrorism
is a negation of faith, it is a crime against humanity. We have always
said that the noble faith of Islam cannot, and to our mind, does not, condone
the killing of innocent. And terrorism thrives on precisely that. Therefore
we have said, please recognise the reality of what is a global menace,
not a local problem.
Q. What do you expect from the world
community now in terms of approach to terrorism?
A. I do believe this event has
led to a kind of defining moment in the awakening of the international
conscience about this menace. I do hope that now that there will be concerted
action against it. I reassert there should be a concert of democracies
against terrorism. Because the two, democracy and terrorism, are antipodal.
The world must stand up and recognise that it is no good addressing the
symptoms episodically we need to identify the root of the problem and address
it.
Q. What do you make of general Musharraf's
statement condemning terrorism everywhere and in all forms and promising
to cooperate with the US especially in the light of Pakistan's record in
this region and in Kashmir?
A. Notwithstanding our experience
in Kashmir, it is my sincere hope that what general Musharraf has said
is a commitment and he will abide by it.
Q. He says they are against terrorism
everywhere and in all forms. Yet he justifies terrorist strikes in Kashmir
even against civilians as jehad or freedom movement.
A. I don't want to particularise
or localise the issue or examine it against the prism of their stated position
on J&K. In fact, it is not only in J&K that they say this. There
are terrorism events elsewhere where such things have been said. But that
is past. I would not like to judge the present against that in the hope
that if even now if there is a sincere and genuine recognition of this
peril - because it equally imperils Pakistan - then I would welcome it.
Q. Musharraf has also said Pakistan
itself is ready to offer any help.
A. Here the straight test is their
whole approach to the Taliban. The whole world knows what the Taliban is
doing, what Pakistan is doing for the Taliban and how the Taliban is able
to sustain its activities with the direct help of Pakistan. A large part
of Pakistan and Afghanistan is under Taliban's control today and it has
become the centre for exporting this kind of medieval malevolence.
Q. Do you accept the way US treats
Pakistan?
A I don't want to comment on that
at all. This is a determination the US must make for itself as its sovereign
right and function. India's relationship with the US is not hyphenated
to this relationship with Pakistan.
Q. What is India's information on
Osama bin Laden's role in Kashmir?
A. I have always said this malevolent
energy of the Taliban, which supports Osama and gives him guaranteed and
secure shelter, is not containable in the geographic confines of Afghanistan
or Pakistan. There is an overspill in Uzbekistan, other parts of Southern
Caucasus and elsewhere in the world. The preliminary investigations in
the US about this tragedy as reported by the American media also seem to
suggest it came from the same area.
Q. There was a meeting of the cabinet
committee on security matters on Thursday. Presumably, this was on top
of the agenda?
A. Of course. We have many continuing
obligations on security matters but today's meeting was focused on this.
The last time we met we had to assess the internal security arrangements.
Thereafter the PM wanted to reassess the current developments. Also understand
the CCS is very deeply concerned and seized of the fact that it is entirely
possible that in this WTC a large number of Indian and Indian-origin people
work. I hope and pray I am proved wrong. But we have to take into account
when the list of fatalities will be published by NY authorities, we have
to be ready to help.
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