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PM welcomes Afghanistan to SAARC
by Ashok Dixit

     Dhaka: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Sunday said that the inclusion of Afghanistan as the eighth member of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a very welcome development, saying that it was the view of the existing seven-member states that Kabul's role in the regional entity would be a significant one in the years ahead. Addressing a press conference towards the end of his three-day visit to Dhaka to attend the 13th SAARC Summit, the Prime Minister also told Indian media that the granting of observer status to both China and Japan is under serious consideration, and would be taken up in right earnest by the experts and the Council of Ministers when they meet between now and April next year. "Afghanistan is very much a part of the future. So, obviously SAARC is generating some influence." When asked whether there was a trust deficit between India and Pakistan, Dr. Singh agreed with the view completely, and recalled Pakistan's committment during the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad that its territory would not be used to harbour or encourage terrorist or terrorist activity.

    He, however, said that there had been a reduction in cross-border terrorist activity, but not to New Delhi's satisfaction. "It is our obligation to turn this trust deficit into a surplus. There has been some reduction (in terrorist activity). Unfortunately, all that needs to be done has not been done. We have assurances that the future will be different from the past. We look forward to that outcome," Dr. Singh said. Continuing on the issue of terrorism, and with a specific reference to the serial bomb blasts in Delhi on October 29, the Prime Minister replied in the affirmative when asked if there was an outside connection to the tragedy. "There is some indication of external linkages. I would not like to comment on who was responsible till the full investigations are before me. Available clues suggest external linkages," he said. The Prime Minister also repeated his pitch for greater regional inter-connectivity, saying that issues and problems like transport costs and tariffs on trade could come down considerably if this became a reality. He also said that it would be the endeavour of the SAARC to implement the South Asian Free Trade Association (SAFTA) effectively from January 1, 2006. On the issue of restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, he said that he had sought to convince King Gyanendra of the immediate need for this, and the latter had accepted the import of his (the PM's) views.

    When asked about India's forthcoming role at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on November 24, he said that New Delhi would stick to its earlier stance of seeking a broad-based consensus on the issue in an effort to prevent it from being taken up by the U.N.Security Council. On the suggestion that Washington was using a "carrot and stick" policy with New Delhi vis-a-vis separation of civilian and defence nuclear facilities in an effort to browbeat India on the Iran uranium enrichment issue, Dr. Singh said in an indirect manner that Washington had its own compulsions and was giving out message to placate its own audiences. When asked what was the reason for opting out of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM) in Malta, the Prime Minister said that the Winter Session of Parliament was coming up (from November 23) and there were serious and important issues that needed to and would be addressed on the domestic front, and that was more important that taking part in an international meeting. On Indo-Bangladesh ties, Dr. Singh said that he had conveyed to Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia that a strong Bangladesh was and would continue to be in India's interest. Summig up, he said that while he was not present at the deliberations of the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, he was of the view that the discussions at the 13th Summit had been significant and far-reaching. The inclusion of Afghanistan, the determination to activate SAFTA from January 1, 2006 after ironing out the three practical impediments like Negative Lists, Rule of Origin and Revenue Compensation, the desire to consider China and Japan for Observer Status, the decision to set up a Regional Disaster Management Centre in Delhi etc.; were all pointers to this.