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| Edited By: Neeta Kolhatkar |Source: DNA |Updated: Nov 19, 2013, 11:17 PM IST
After America and India issued a joint statement regarding their intention to accelerate growth of bilateral ties between the two countries, US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer came on a two-day visit to Mumbai. Roemer told DNA that the US had taken Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf’s statement seriously. Excerpts from the
interview.
How seriously has the US government taken the statement made by former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan has misused US aid to procure weapons against India?
First of all this is an allegation made by a former official. Musharraf is now a private citizen. But the US takes the statement seriously. But right now it’s an allegation. Our officials will get to the root of it. They are checking its veracity.
Will the US pursue Pakistan to ban terrorist groups such as LeT?
We treat the LeT as a regional and global threat to the US and India. We will pursue, defeat and deter LeT and other terror threats. Regarding the Mumbai attack, there are six suspects who are currently being held in Islamabad. It is important that these six are brought to task commensurate with the laws of the land. It is also important that Hafeez Sayeed, against whom there was an Interpol red flag, is controlled. President Barack Obama believes in a 3D approach — defence, diplomacy and development. The terror outfits can be destroyed and relations can be maintained through talks.
Questions have been raised about the relationship between Obama and prime minister Manmohan Singh. Have CTBT and nuclear non-proliferation strained Indo-US relations?
Just before I left for India, president Obama and I had a meeting. The president said this can be one of the most valuable relationships. He said, “I find I get along with and like PM Singh. We have so much in common. I call him to talk business for five to six minutes and it turns out we have a conversation twice as much longer”. We have a robust growing relationship. A strong relationship does not mean you agree on all issues.
