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India sends its diplomats far and wide to argue its case

India today accelerated its dialogue with France on nuclear tests and sent Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to Moscow to brief the Russian leadership on the tests.

Two top officials of the French foreign ministry -- Francois Topffer, director general (Asia) and Regis de Belnay, director general (disarmament) -- today held discussions in New Delhi with Foreign Secretary K Raghunath and H S Puri, joint secretary (Europe) in the external affairs ministry.

An external affairs ministry spokesman said the discussions with the French side were in continuation of the dialogue, initiated by Mishra, when he visited Paris last week. Mishra, during his visit, met French President Jacques Chirac and the foreign minister and explained the rationale behind India conducting the tests.

The two French foreign ministry officials left this evening for Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Mishra left for Moscow to meet the Russian leaders and explain to them India's security concerns, which forced it to conduct the tests. Indications are that Mishra will meet Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov.

Besides visiting France last week, Mishra went to London and met British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

According to Mishra, there was now a better understanding of India's viewpoint among the French and British leaders on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation.

Another emissary of the prime minister, Jaswant Singh, is at present in New York, explaining india's stand to opinion makers and intellectuals in the US. Reports suggest that Singh may meet US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.

An external affairs ministry spokesman said the prime minister had written more than 170 letters to almost all the countries, explaining India's position on the nuclear tests.

Senior external affairs ministry officials, led by Nareshwar Dayal, secretary (east), will arrive in Kuwait tonight on a tour aimed at briefing the Gulf states about the nuclear tests conducted by India last month.

The team, which includes Talmiz Ahmed, joint secretary (Gulf), is also due to visit Bahrain later this week.

They visited Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar earlier this month. They are likely to visit Saudi Arabia later after mutually convenient dates are finalised.

In Kuwait, the team will meet first deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Sabah al Ahmed al Sabah and foreign undersecretary Suleiman Majed al Shaheen, official sources said.

In Manama, they are expected to meet Bahraini foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak al Khalifa and the foreign undersecretary.

As on the earlier trip, the Indian officials will explain to the Gulf states India's rationale for conducting the nuclear tests and its assessment of the developments since then.

The talks will provide India with a chance to brief Kuwait and Bahrain about its security concerns and answer a lot of queries that are bound to be raised.

India attaches great importance to its relations with the Gulf states and the officials will use the opportunity to reiterate its commitment to these ties.

The team will also reiterate to the countries in this region its resolve to improve relations with Pakistan. Ever since India and Pakistan conducted the tests, the Gulf states have been anxious about the increased tension between the two countries.

The Indian officials will, therefore, make a special effort to reaffirm India's commitment to peace and stability in the region and make it clear that it has no intention to provoke an arms race in the subcontinent.

Since the team's first visit to the region last week, Pakistan has also mounted a major diplomatic offensive with a visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief himself.

UNI

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