Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 11, 2009
Introduction: Delhi Sticks To Stand, Says
Islamabad Not Proactive
Pakistan has done little to address India's
concerns about terrorism emanating from its soil, but it's becoming clear
that the US is nudging India into resuming the dialogue with Islamabad. US
undersecretary of state William Burns, who is on a three-day visit, on Wednesday
discussed with foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon the "importance"
of the dialogue.
While India has dropped enough hints in the past few weeks that it is willing
to walk the extra mile for Pakistan, Menon, said sources, conveyed to Burns
that Islamabad does not seem interested in creating conditions conducive for
talks. Foreign minister S M Krishna too reiterated on Wednesday evening India's
stand that it is willing to talk but only after Pakistan acts against terror.
The sources said Menon tried to convince Burns
that while Islamabad may have acted against the Taliban and al-Qaida forces,
it has taken only cosmetic steps against groups like LeT and JeM that target
India. He cited the way Pakistan soft-pedalled the case against JuD chief
and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed leading to his release.
After the long meeting with Menon, Burns called
on home minister P Chidambaram and Krishna. He is expected to meet PM Manmohan
Singh on Thursday to hand over a personal letter from President Barack Obama
before flying to Mumbai.
The US' stand on the talks became clear when
state department spokesman Ian Kelly said in Washington even before the visit
had started that the US would support more dialogue between the two countries.
"I am sure that undersecretary Burns will talk about this issue among
the many issues that he has on his agenda," said Kelly.
Burns told his hosts that India was a foreign
policy priority for the Obama administration. He said he had come with a "straight
forward message" from secretary of state Hillary Clinton that India was
a priority nation. "I am convinced that there is a great deal we can
do together," said Burns, who is preparing the ground for Clinton's visit
to India late next month. During the talks, the US Af-Pak policy also came
up and India India expressed reservations over more US aid to Pakistan. The
situation in neighbouring Sri Lanka and Nepal was also discussed. Burns said
the US believed that India would be its crucial global partner in the 21st
century and that a strong foundation for bilateral relations had already been
laid for it.
