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Vajpayee to discuss a host of issues during his meeting with Bush
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will discuss a host of issues, including building a `strong, robust military relationship` between the two largest democracies, during his meeting with President George W Bush next week.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will discuss a host of issues, including building a 'strong, robust military relationship' between the two largest democracies, during his meeting with President George W Bush next week.
This is the first time Mr Vajpayee will be meeting ''face-to-face'' with Mr Bush, since the latter took office earlier this year. The meeting is also taking place at a time when the US is trying hard to keep traditional rivals India and Pakistan in good humor as it wages its war against terrorism in the region.
Briefing reporters in Washington on Friday, ambassador Lalit Mansingh said Vajpayee's Washington visit was aimed at fostering bilateral relationship and common strategic interests. The military cooperation that ended with the nuclear tests by India was now expected to be jump-started.
He said discussions on military issues would include joint military and naval exercises, joint peacekeeping efforts and even purchase of military hardware. In the backdrop of the US current operations in Afghanistan, India is expected to convey its concerns and interests in that country's future.
Mr Mansingh said India wanted to make sure that any new government that assumes power in Kabul did not ''export terrorism''.
India blames the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Pakistani Islamic militants for instigating violence in Kashmir.
''We haven't seen any let up in terrorism since September 11,'' said Mr Mansingh who referred to Pakistan as playing the cop during the day and bandit at the night. He said since September 11 there had been 533 incidents of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which took a toll of 622 lives, including those of 132 civilians. ''Seems to us that there is an increased level of violence and infiltration by militants,'' he added.
Mr Mansingh said 70 per cent of the people apprehended for acts of terrorism were from outside the country, such as Pakistanis and Arabs, and not Kashmiris.
Mr Mansingh reiterated the Indian position that Kashmir was a domestic issue and had to be dealt as such. ''The war against terrorism in Kashmir has to be fought by us. It is our battle,'' he said.
He agreed with a news report that Pakistan, while helping the US in the fight against Taliban, was covertly arming Taliban militants. ''Things cannot happen without the knowledge of the Pakistani government,'' Mr Mansingh noted. India is also expected to convey to the US its interest to share in the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Mr Mansingh said India had actively participated in such activities in that country in the 1970's and 1980's. India will be donating one million tonnes of wheat in addition to supplying medicines, he said.
Besides meeting with Mr Bush, Mr Vajpayee will also have discussions with Congressional leaders, including senate majority leader Tom Daschle and house speaker Dennis Hastert.
Bureau Report
Briefing reporters in Washington on Friday, ambassador Lalit Mansingh said Vajpayee's Washington visit was aimed at fostering bilateral relationship and common strategic interests. The military cooperation that ended with the nuclear tests by India was now expected to be jump-started.
He said discussions on military issues would include joint military and naval exercises, joint peacekeeping efforts and even purchase of military hardware. In the backdrop of the US current operations in Afghanistan, India is expected to convey its concerns and interests in that country's future.
Mr Mansingh said India wanted to make sure that any new government that assumes power in Kabul did not ''export terrorism''.
India blames the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Pakistani Islamic militants for instigating violence in Kashmir.
''We haven't seen any let up in terrorism since September 11,'' said Mr Mansingh who referred to Pakistan as playing the cop during the day and bandit at the night. He said since September 11 there had been 533 incidents of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which took a toll of 622 lives, including those of 132 civilians. ''Seems to us that there is an increased level of violence and infiltration by militants,'' he added.
Mr Mansingh said 70 per cent of the people apprehended for acts of terrorism were from outside the country, such as Pakistanis and Arabs, and not Kashmiris.
Mr Mansingh reiterated the Indian position that Kashmir was a domestic issue and had to be dealt as such. ''The war against terrorism in Kashmir has to be fought by us. It is our battle,'' he said.
He agreed with a news report that Pakistan, while helping the US in the fight against Taliban, was covertly arming Taliban militants. ''Things cannot happen without the knowledge of the Pakistani government,'' Mr Mansingh noted. India is also expected to convey to the US its interest to share in the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Mr Mansingh said India had actively participated in such activities in that country in the 1970's and 1980's. India will be donating one million tonnes of wheat in addition to supplying medicines, he said.
Besides meeting with Mr Bush, Mr Vajpayee will also have discussions with Congressional leaders, including senate majority leader Tom Daschle and house speaker Dennis Hastert.
Bureau Report