Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Also on the agenda were arms sales, opening up the possibility of Indian
purchases of major weapons platforms of a sort never before permitted.
Following the mid-December attack on parliament, the two stepped up their
intelligence sharing, with the Americans handing over sensitive information
relating to Pakistan's complicity in the assault. Remarking on how the two
countries had stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against terrorism, and
deliberately echoing Vajpayee's formulation, Powell told a New Delhi press
conference that India and the United States were 'natural allies, two great
democracies who believe in a common set of values'. A few weeks later, Bush
underscored the point. 'My administration', he pledged, 'is committed to
developing a fundamentally different relationship with India.'
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The Security Dimension
The community of interests seemingly highlighted by the September 11 attacks
reinforced a perception already common in both countries of a broader political
and strategic 'complementarity' of interests pulling India and the United States
together. There is, the
Telegraph
had editorialized earlier that spring, a 'growing
strategic convergence' between the two countries.
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India is now ready to be 'a
strategic partner of the highest caliber' for the United States, a Washington think-
tank analyst observed.
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Briefing reporters in mid-July, the Bush administration's newly-confirmed
assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs repeatedly referred to the
'strategic ties' Washington sought to build with India.
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The United States
wished 'to engage India in a strategic dialogue that encompasses the full range of
global issues', the US trade representative had added. The administration
'appreciates that India's influence clearly extends far beyond South Asia'.
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Yet the closer one peers, the less substantial one finds those 'strategic' linkages
and convergences allegedly drawing the United States and India together. True,
officials in both capitals today are far more aware of their common interests and
shared perspectives, and far more open in talking about them, than their
predecessors of a decade or a generation ago. But the process of translating these
similar concerns into joint or coordinated policies has barely begun. Moreover,
the two countries continue to differ on many of the very issues that are cited as
furnishing a basis for collaboration.
In the Middle East, for instance, the two have very different ideas on policy
toward both Iran and Iraq. During a four-day visit to Tehran in April 2001,
Vajpayee signaled the cordiality of Indian-Iranian ties by formalizing a new
strategic pact obligating the two countries to working closely together in
opposition to the Taliban and other forces that could destabilize west and central
Asia. Vajpayee is reportedly reviewing new arms sales to Tehran, which would
complement training New Delhi is already providing Iranian naval personnel and
