NEW DELHI: A new mood conducive to more friendly relations and greater under- standing of the nation’s economic and other problems is clearly emerging in the US Abid Hussain India’s ambassador in Washington claimed.
Hussain who is here for consultations with leaders of the new govt noted that there were many positive elements in the relations between the two countries as reflected in Washington’s stance on Kashmir and many other issues
The Bush administration has indeed unfolded a policy of growing friendship with India. Even in the critical hours of the Gulf War they did not give up (the practice of) seeking aid and assistance from India for they knew that India most often represented the voice of conscience he said in ‘an interview. Washington might not have liked New Delhi’s stance on some issues but never condemned it as one belonging to the hostile camp. Referring to the refueling controversy during the Gulf war he said that contrary to the expectations in some quarters there was no open expression of resentment by the Bush administration because it appreciated the fact that India with its policy of nonalignment and a big Muslim population was under severe compulsions.
They felt India had helped them at a critical moment and they wanted to respect it at a difficult juncture in its domestic politics he said.
As for Kashmir the US has come much closer to the Indian point of view than one would have expected. It has clearly stated that the plebiscite proposal has been over taken by time and the intervening events and that the matter should be settled within the parameters of the Shimla agreement. Similarly on the question of militancy they have given no quarter to some of the forces which are causing problems of law and order in certain parts of the country.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
