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India-US ties not to affect relations with other nations: PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said that India and the United States have the potential for being ''natural allies'' but maintained that the ''new understanding'' between the two countries is not at the cost of relations with other countries including China.

''Both countries have the potential for being natural allies,'' Vajpayee said in an interview to the International Herald Tribune.

Reflecting the marked upswing in bilateral ties in the backdrop of President Bill Clinton's visit to India in March this year, he said ''Both are democracies, believing in plural societies, committed to human rights. After our frank and friendly talks with President Clinton, whatever doubts were there, they are there no more.''

Responding to questions on whether closer Indo-US ties would have an adverse fallout on Sino-Indian relations, Vajpayee, who leaves on a fortnight-long visit to the US later this week, said ''our coming together with the US doesn't mean that our relations with other countries would be adversely affected.''

''The relationships (India's with the US and China) stand on separate footing,'' he added.

''Our relations with China are improving. We are having satisfactory border talks to solve the boundary question,'' he said.

To a question, Vajpayee said India deserved a permanent seat on an expanded United Nations Security Council. ''There is growing support for the country's candidature.''

On Indo-Pak relations, he reiterated New Delhi's stand that Pakistan had to create a ''conducive atmosphere'' for having any ''meaningful dialogue''.

India has been repeatedly stating that Islamabad had to stop sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country and cease hostile propaganda against it.

''We have made our position clear,'' he said adding ''We are ready to discuss all subjects with Pakistan including Kashmir.''

He said ''It is for Pakistan to restore the trust which has been severely violated in Kargil.''

The Prime Minister also categorically ruled out any role for the U S as a mediator in talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. ''No no third-party intervention is required.''

On the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty issue, Vajpayee said his government was ''making efforts to build a consensus within the country.''

Asked about the problem of brain drain faced in this country, he said ''There was a time when it was thought that Indians who are going abroad, particularly, to the US, were causing a brain drain. That has proved to be wrong. India professionals have made a mark for themselves in the US and are contributing to the progress of the1 US as well as India.''

PTI

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