NEW DELHI: India’s relations with its neighbors figured prominently during the external affairs minister Inder Kumar Gujral’s working lunch for Stephen Solarz chairman of the U S House of Representatives subcommittee on Asian and Pacific affairs.

Gujral underlined the importance New Delhi attached to the improvement of relations with neighbors, according to a spokesman of the Indian external affairs ministry.

Gujral and Solarz also discussed two proposals on settling the Cambodian problem. These have been put forward by Australia and Solarz himself to the international conference on Cambodia which was held in Paris last year.

Solarz called on Prime Minister V P Singh Thursday evening.

Solarz said the new government in India seemed to be committed to resolving disputes with its neighbors.

Any progress in this direction would not only be in the interest of India and its neighbors but also the United States, he observed.

Recalling his recent meeting with Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto, he said she was looking forward to working with the new leadership in India for a better relationship.

Replying to a question, Solarz said it would go to India’s credit if it permitted Amnesty International and other human right groups to visit Punjab. Such a step would deprive the critics of India of the argument that it had something to hide.

Solarz felt that a settlement of the Siachin glacier issue could set the stage for future agreements between India and Pakistan,

On the nuclear question, he said the situation had neither improved nor worsened on the subcontinent in the past one year.

Solarz, who heads the house of representatives subcommittee on Asian and pacific affairs, said he did not think that the U S administration had any plans to cut aid to Afghan Mujahideen in the absence of a political settlement.

He also said much would depend on the success of the efforts by the Pakistan-based Afghan interim government to broaden its base by holding another “Shoora” (assembly) by February or March.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 12, 1990