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India will continue to tread middle path on Iraq: Sinha
New Delhi, Apr 19: Maintaining that India will continue to tread the `middle path` on Iraq, external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha tonight said that there was no need to panic over possible us intervention in its affairs nor should there be any apprehension that indo-us relations were on the verge of collapse.
New Delhi, Apr 19: Maintaining that India will continue to tread the "middle path" on Iraq, external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha tonight said that there was no need to panic over possible us intervention in its affairs nor should there be any apprehension that indo-us relations were on the verge of collapse.
Observing that government had chosen to adopt the middle path on Iraq after considerable deliberation, he said, "India will go to neither extremes. We will continue to balance the pursuit of our national interests with our principles."
Delivering the second Rajendra Mathur Memorial Lecture organised by the editors guild of India, he said "neither will we sell our souls to others nor will we pursue blindly antagonistic policies for the sake of antagonism."
While pursuing the middle path might be a lonely endeavour, "but if that is what our national interests dictate, we shall proceed on this path with conviction and determination," he said.
Noting that there was no dearth of advice on foreign policy issues, the minister said he would like to make it clear that "we neither need to panic over possible US intervention in our affairs nor should there be concern that our relations with the us are on the verge of collapse."
The minister asserted that India cannot remain silent simply out of fear of incurring the displeasure of others.
Emphasising that Indo-US relations should not be viewed through the prism of only one issue, he said these ties were based on a whole host of objective factors which continue to bring the two countries closer.
Observing that government had chosen to adopt the middle path on Iraq after considerable deliberation, he said, "India will go to neither extremes. We will continue to balance the pursuit of our national interests with our principles."
Delivering the second Rajendra Mathur Memorial Lecture organised by the editors guild of India, he said "neither will we sell our souls to others nor will we pursue blindly antagonistic policies for the sake of antagonism."
While pursuing the middle path might be a lonely endeavour, "but if that is what our national interests dictate, we shall proceed on this path with conviction and determination," he said.
Noting that there was no dearth of advice on foreign policy issues, the minister said he would like to make it clear that "we neither need to panic over possible US intervention in our affairs nor should there be concern that our relations with the us are on the verge of collapse."
The minister asserted that India cannot remain silent simply out of fear of incurring the displeasure of others.
Emphasising that Indo-US relations should not be viewed through the prism of only one issue, he said these ties were based on a whole host of objective factors which continue to bring the two countries closer.
Bureau Report