DATE=11/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241351
TITLE=INDIA/SANCTIONS REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN REACTION TO THE UNITED STATES DECISION TO PARTIALLY
LIFT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA AND PAKISTAN IS LOW-KEY.
THE INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT. FOREIGN
POLICY ANALYSTS CALL IT A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT SAY
THE MEASURE WILL HELP PAKISTAN MORE THAN INDIA. FROM NEW DELHI,
ANJANA PASRICHA HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSTS SAY THE U.S. DECISION TO
EASE SOME OF THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON INDIA AND PAKSITAN
WILL IMPROVE THE ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN NEW DELHI AND WASHINGTON AS
THEY NEGOTIATE ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT ISSUES.
SENIOR INDIAN AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARE SCHEDULED TO HOLD THE
NEXT ROUND OF ONGOING TALKS ON NUCLEAR ISSUES LATER THIS MONTH.
BRAHMA CHELLANEY OF THE CENTER OF POLICY RESEARCH SAYS THIS IS
THE FIRST CONCESSION BY THE UNITED STATES IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER
OF INITIATIVES TAKEN BY INDIA ON NON-PROLIFERATION IN THE WAKE OF
ITS NUCLEAR TESTS. HE SAYS THE EASING OF SANCTIONS IS MAINLY
INTENDED TO RESCUE PAKISTAN'S SINKING ECONOMY, BUT WILL ALSO
REVIVE THE MOMENTUM OF INDO-U.S. TALKS.
#INSERT CHELLANEY ACT#
THE U.S. IS TRYING TO CREATE MORE DIPLOMATIC SPACE FOR ITSELF IN
TALKS WITH INDIA AND PAKSITAN. SECONDLY THE U.S. WANTS TO RESCUE
A SINKING PAKISTAN AND SALVAGE THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH INDIA WHICH
APPEAR AT THE MOMENT IN DEEP TROUBLE.
#END CHELLANEY ACT#
POLITICAL ANALYSTS CAUTION SOME OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES
BETWEEN INDIA AND THE U.S. REMAIN AHEAD. INDIA HAS BEEN PRESSING
FOR ACCESS TO DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY, OR EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BOTH
CIVILIAN AND MILITARY APPLICATION IN RETURN FOR SIGNING THE
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY. JASJIT SINGH, WHO HEADS THE
INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE STUDIES AND ANALYSIS, SAYS THE EASING OF
SANCTIONS DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
#INSERT SINGH ACT#
IT'S A GOOD, POSITIVE BEGINNING, BUT THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.
THE SANCTIONS ARE NOT THE REAL ISSUE. WHAT ARE THE U.S. SANCTIONS
REALLY? IT'S THE LARGER ISSUE OF INDIA-U.S. RELATIONS. IT'S THE
LARGER ISSUE OF INDIA'S ACCESS TO DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY
PARTICULARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT REGION.
#END SINGH ACT#
ACCORDING TO ECONOMIC ANALYSTS, THE INDIAN ECONOMY IS STRONGER
THAN PAKISTAN'S, AND HAS NOT BEEN SEVERELY HIT BY THE U.S.
SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/PLM
07-Nov-98 8:09 AM EST (1309 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|