'We should not expect the US to give up Pakistan'
Former foreign secretary M K Rasgotra, who presided over the course of the country's foreign policy during between 1982-85, the height of the Cold War which pitted India, willynilly, in the Soviet camp. He appeared on the Rediff Chat, and spoke about the changing geopolitical situation, in which it appears imperative for the two large democracies of the world to cooperate closely.
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 6:56 IST)
Good evening. It is nice to be with you. I am ready to answer any question that you might have on President Clinton's visit to India.
natraj (Thu Mar 16 19100 2:32 IST)
Hello sir, let me know the correct reason for Clinton's visit suddenly.
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 6:59 IST)
Natraj: It is not a visit decided suddenly. The President has been saying for some time that he wants to visit India. And he is welcome here. I think he will get a great reception here. And I think it is high time India and the US developed a more constructive relationship for the future. It will be something very good for our two countries and very good for an Asian equilibrium and world security.
Rakesh (Thu Mar 16 19100 5:57 IST)
Sir, I would like to know what it is that Pakistani diplomats have that Indian diplomats lack which makes them sway Western media's opinion to their point of view?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:2 IST)
Rakesh: My answer is very simple. I don't think Pakistan diplomatics have anything more than Indian diplomatics have. And of late, not only the American opinion but the world opinion has swayed in India's favour. In my own diplomatic career, I have had many meetings, arguments and contentions with Pakistani diplomats. I would welcome future encounters.
Ranjeeta (Thu Mar 16 19100 5:59 IST)
Hello sir, do you think that Clinton should visit Pakistan? And what would be the fallout of his presence in Pakistan?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:5 IST)
Ranjeeta: I think it is for President Clinton to decide. Personally I can't understand why we got into the act of even suggesting that he should not go there. I think his visit might even do some good in conveying some messages to the military regime which we think is illegitimate, but I realise that US has interests in Pakistan and we Indians should not expect US to give up Pakistan. If they can exert some healthy influence on Pakistan's polity so much the better for everybody.
Dulhan (Thu Mar 16 19100 6:40 IST)
Is the cost that we are undertaking to make this visit pleasant for Clinton justified when the country is reeling in debt?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:8 IST)
Dulhan: I think it is a great occasion for India that President of the United States is visiting our country and India should be glad to bear any expense necessary to make the President and his party feel at home and I think the visit will have been worthwhile. After a long period of two decades, the heads of states and governments of the two great democracies of the world are coming together. It is an occasion for celebration and not for counting your dollars or rupees. In my perception something of much greater value will come out of this encounter.
Jaidev (Thu Mar 16 19100 6:59 IST)
Mr Rasgotra, do you think India should sign the CTBT?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:11 IST)
Jaidev: Not yet. I am not in favour of signing the CTBT at this time, when we are under sanctions and pressures of various kind, reasons totally unrelated to India's security concerns. Besides, the United States Senate has rejected the treaty for the time being, it can not go into effect so what is the point of signing the treaty to please country A,B or C? We should choose our time. I think the time is not yet.
MAHAVIR (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:11 IST)
What is on the Centre's agenda to discuss with the US administration?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:15 IST)
Mahavir: Well, the two governments will decide the agenda. But I think the questions most likely to come up are Indo-American business links of the future, the economic relationship in general and hopefully the future security relationship between the two countries. Great investment possibilities for American industry and capital are opening up in India, we need American capital, technology, generally the US cooperation in trade, commerce, infrastructural development. I suppose some of the contentious issue such as non-proliferation will come up.
But the two countries have well defined positions of their own. After these have been stated they should consider ways and means to working together in these fields also in the future. Pakistan's behaviour should be discussed, and I think Indian authorities should take the opportunity to explain to President Clinton in very clear terms India's position on Kashmir.
Jaidev (Thu Mar 16 19100 6:55 IST)
Sir, do you think the US will try to force India to sign the CTBT?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:17 IST)
Jaidev: I do not think so. I do not believe that anybody can force India to do anything if India does not want to do it. And I think there is growing appreciation in the US policy making circles of India's security concerns and needs.
Ramya (Thu Mar 16 19100 6:58 IST)
Mr Rasgotra, why has India been neglected by the US all these years and isn't this visit because we are now a nuclear state? Do you think if we tested the bomb in the 70s the equation would have been different?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:26 IST)
Ramya: We did test a bomb in 1974 and that did not bring India and the US together. The real thing is, during the Cold War the focus of American policy was on the Soviet Union and any country with a close relationship with Moscow, as India had. It was considered as being on the other side. With Pakistan and China, since the 70s, there was a relationship of military-political alliance directed against the Soviet Union. All that has changed now, especially after the end of the Afghan war and disintegration of the Soviet Union and Warsaw pact.
I think for the last few years, the US has been looking at India in the new global context as a country of considerable importance not only in Asia but in the global setting. Old relationships are changing and new ones are being forged. The Delhi-Washington relationship is one of these new developments.
Jyoti (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:5 IST)
Will the visit actually help India and the US get together to face the menace of global terrorism and religious fundamentalism that threaten the very fabric of our liberal and plural societies?
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:31 IST)
Jyoti: Yes I think it will. In different ways both countries are confronted with the menace. And I am sure there will be a good deal of discussion in Delhi on the ways and means of dealing with it. In fact for some time now, the two countries have been meeting and discussing terrorism related issues both in Washington and New Delhi.
Mr M K Rasgotra (Thu Mar 16 19100 7:32 IST)
It was nice to be with you. I am sorry I am unable to take more questions. I hope there is another occasion to meet with you.
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