Responding to questions on a wide ranging issues concerning India’s bilateral relations with Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh and the United States to nuclear deal and alleged Army funding of Jammu & Kashmir politicians, top level official sources said: the government is open to discuss all issues with Pakistan – from terrorism, situation along the Line of Control (LoC), unfinished agenda on economic co-operation, including electricity and gas supplies, Afghanistan and the whole region. Only a lasting peace can help the countries in the region exploit their true economic and development potentials and improve the lot of all concerned.

Admitting that the forces of radicalism, terrorism and extremism are not going to disappear from the region too soon, the sources say that the countries and governments in the region will have to deal with these problems. The Afghan political transition after the proposed US troop withdrawal next year concerns all its neighbours – India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia. While the extent of the US troop withdrawal is still being negotiated upon between the two countries, a broad based consensus on the future of Afghanistan should be possible. The good thing is the Afghan security forces have been trained well to largely tackle the problem of terrorism. Its economy has been making good progress.

On the Iran-US relations, the sources say that India has always wanted a direct Iran-US engagement on all sensitive and security related issues, including nuclear standoff. “We are hopeful that the two sides will work together towards resolution of the issues. This will benefit all. It will be of particular benefit to India.”

The sources denied that India has failed to honour the Teesta river water sharing pact and boundary agreement with Bangladesh. “Bangladesh wanted assurance of 50 per cent Teesta water flow through the release point at Dulian. To our knowledge, 100 per cent water is flowing into Bangladesh at this point of time. Both countries are independently measuring the flow of water and sharing information. The government will take the necessary measure to move a bill in the next session of Parliament to implement the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh.” the sources added.

The government seems to be most upset with the former army chief, General V K Singh’s allegation of Army’s political funding in Jammu & Kashmir. The sources reacted sharply on the issue saying the ex-general was actually alleging against himself providing ammunition to separatist elements in the state and Pakistan. The matter is being thoroughly investigated.

It is understood that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL)’s deal with Westinghouse Corporation of the US has received the stamp of approval of the Department of Atomic Energy. The union cabinet has been kept in the loop. The necessary payment, said to be below $ 100 million, for the transfer of proprietary information is expected to be made by NPCIL to the US nuclear equipment suppler in a day or two.

Prior to his departure for the USA, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement that over the past decade India’s relationship with the US has transformed into a global strategic partnership. “The intensive, high-level bilateral visits over the last few months reflect the strong momentum of our engagement. We have also registered impressive progress in our cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship.

“We see the US as a long term partner in our development efforts, and in fostering a global environment that is conducive of growth. For India, the US remains a key source of technology, investment, innovation and resources, and one of the most important destinations for our goods and services. We have productive and deepening partnerships in trade and investment, defence, counter-terrorism, intelligence, internal security, cyber security, civil nuclear energy, environment, health, higher education, space, science and technology and culture. People-to-people contacts are a strong feature of our engagement. We have also launched development partnership in third countries. My visit is an opportunity to review our joint efforts and chart a course for our future co-operation.”

He said the UN General Assembly this year will focus on the follow up to the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, which marked the 20th anniversary of the Earth Summit. The General Assembly will also look at drawing up the global development agenda after 2015, which is target date for the Millennium Development Goals set in 2000. Despite successes on many parameters, the world as a whole is unlikely to meet these goals.

The Prime Minister said that the UN General Assembly will also meet at a time of enormous political upheaval, particularly in West Asia, coupled with a global economic slowdown that has now affected even the emerging economies. “I will convey our strong conviction that global challenges are best addressed through multilateral approaches, with the United Nations at its centre. I will also stress the pressing need for early reform of institutions of global political and economic governance, particularly the United Nations Security Council, so that the UN can play an effective and creative role. The year 2015 will mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and it would be a fitting occasion to conclude the ongoing reform efforts,” he added. EOM