WASHINGTON: The US President Bill Clinton last week said he had fruitful talks with the Indian Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao and that differences over the nuclear nonproliferation would not hinder its constructive relationship with India.

Addressing a joint press conference at the White House Clinton said India and Pakistan the two great nations should get together and resolve the dispute over Kashmir

Bill Clinton accepted an invitation to visit India.

The invitation was extended by Prime Minister Narsimha Rao during his talks with Clinton during which the two leaders held extensive talks on bilateral matters and international issues.

Asked whether the US would Support Indias case for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council Clinton said his administration had an open mind though it had already canvassed for Germany and Japan based on their economic performance. However this should not be treated definite stand of the US administration he said. Explaining the US position on the nuclear proliferation President Clinton said that the US concern would be to enhance India’s security without its having to go nuclear.

Nuclear Club: The United States was trying to keep the nuclear club as small as possible. But within the club a small as possible the club it was trying to reduce the arsenal. He said.  

What is pivotal for India is its security he said.

Germany and Japan have built up their security without nuclear weapons he said.

It is wrong for US to tell India or much other country to reduce their Security Clinton said.

He did not agree with a questioner that the US was adopting double standards on the nuclear issue by allowing Israel to acquire nuclear weapons while denying the same to others.

Rao emphasized that the economic liberalization initiated by India would continue unhindered and invited US businessmen to tap the potential market for trade and Investment in India.

Lauding the unstinted support extended by Washington to the economic reforms initiated by India the Prime Minister said that there is no turning back in reforms and the corporate US was attracted by the policies of the Indian government.

Rao said that he was thankful to the US for lending its support to the economic reforms.

The Prime Minister said as a post-cold war president Clinton had a special role-to play in the world on the political and economic scene

Clinton said that Kashmiri militants continued to get support from private parties in Pakistan adding that Washington would have to monitor the situation and deal with it accordingly

You are asking a wrong person Clinton said when a reporter tried to corner him with a question on how many nuclear bombs India possessed.

Clinton’s one line evoked peals of laughter from the press corps.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 27, 1994