India viewed in US as trade partner and potential ally:Wisner

Bangalore, Sep 10 (PTI) India is being viewed in the U.S. as a major trading and investment partner, generator of technology and a potential ally in shaping policies relating to terrorism, climate change and nuclear proliferation, former U.S. Ambassador to India Frank Wisner said.

There was a strong assumption in the U.S. that India
would play an important role in the international economic
system, he said while addressing members of the Confederation
of Indian Industry (C.I.I.) on the topic "After U.S.
Elections: Next Step in the U.S.-India Relationships".

"There is a growing recognition that a strong India could
be good for the U.S. to ensure stability in the Asian region
and the world", Wisner, who is also Vice-Chairman, American
International Group (A.I.G.), said.

Consensus is also developing that India and its interest
would have to be taken into account in the changing scenario
where New Delhi would play a significant role in various
international issues.

In the changing Indo-U.S. relationship, India is perceived
to be hoping to leverage the US position to open the doors of
the world and institutions like the Security Council of which
she hopes to be part. "Though that is a hard one", he said
given the complexity of the U.N. body and the various range of
issues that would have to be addressed if it happened,
including the role of Latin America, Africa, Germany and the
strength of the countries with veto power.

He said though India and the U.S. which had been on a
"roller coaster" ride in terms of their relationship
weathering many ups and downs in the past, the new changing
Indo-U.S. relationship must be viewed more pragmatically, the
former Ambassador said.

On N.S.G. clearing the path for operationalisation of
Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, Wisner said "these were heady times"
compared to the past when the two countries were at
loggerheads, post- Pokhran.

"We had been there and don't want to go back", he said.

Commenting on Indo-U.S. relations after the elections in
both the countries, he suggested the two new administrations,
when they come to power, need to state the importance of the
relationship and raffirm the level of dialogue that has taken
place in the last several years.

"Consultations need to be deep on security matters like in
South East Asia, Korea... how to manage Pakistan, where does
Iran fit in.. We need to be careful. We need to manage our
differences..That does not mean we cannot talk about it or
figure out the problems", Wisner said.

The relationship, he said, should be reciprocal with
neither side taking steps that would advantage one and
disadvantage the other, Wisner said, outlining the
relationship

The relationship is transforming with trade that was
around 13 billion dollars in 2000 crossing the 41 billion
dollar mark and heading to the 50 billion dollar mark.

The exponential defence trade promises that it "is going
to be exciting', he said.

However, he warned that both sides should harbour no
illusions about the relationship. It would be dangerous to
over reach, he said.

Calling for a public-private partnership model and
broadening the level of participation in the relationship in
terms of forming joint ventures and collaborations in fields
like medicine, new environment technology, agriculture, he
said a collaborative exercise should also be carried out in
the academic sphere in both the countries.PTI