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Pallone Sees Convergence Of American, Indian Objectives

A P Kamath

Inviting Pakistan to follow India's example and give civilians control over its nuclear weapons, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr asked from the Clinton administration for a "more realistic policy that recognizes India's status as a nuclear power".

Calling the States Department policy towards India "narrow," he urged Washington on August 18 to make India its "partner for peace and stability". To do so, America should take the "long overdue step of accepting India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," he said.

Pallone, Democrat from New Jersey, is a founding member of the India Caucus in Washington. A staunch friend of India, he has repeatedly praised India's "admirable restraint" in Kargil in the face of unwarranted and unprovoked incursion into its territory.

"In light of India's responsible handling of the Kargil situation," he continued, "I believe India's nuclear arms doctrine deserves to at least be received by the United States as a serious basis for promoting regional stability.

"The new doctrine of civilian control being proposed by the Indian government also demonstrates a sense of accountability to the people of India," he said.

Instead of being critical of India's steps, he urged the State Department to "readjust its thinking toward accommodation of the reality that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers now". The top American priority should be to urge confidence building by both countries, he asserted.

Hailing India's doctrine of no-first-use, Pallone said that New Delhi has demonstrated that it is a democracy which is "acting within its legitimate right to self-defense and not seeking to threaten its neighbors."

New Delhi has good reason to feel the need for a credible deterrent given recent actions by Islamabad and Beijing, said Pallone, who is among many Congressmen including Benjamin Gilman who are critical of Pakistan and China.

"One of the key factors that have been overlooked in our narrow India-Pakistan focus is the role of China," he continued. "I believe that China is the real threat to India, as well as to the US interests and security."

He asked the administration to consider India's potential role as a partner for peace and stability in the region.

Since Washington should also view Beijing as "a potential adversary," he continued, "there is a growing convergence of American and Indian objectives for responding to China."

Instead of isolating India, he said, America should make it a partner in the quest for nuclear peace. To isolate India, he warned, would be adding to the perception that India's legitimate security concerns are not receiving adequate attention or respect.

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