Indo-US nuclear deal not to fuel arms race in SAsia: Boucher

WASHINGTON: Stressing on the importance of Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, a senior US official has assured lawmakers in his country that the agreement would not in any way fuel an arms race in South Asia.

"I appreciate the effort the Congress put into passing the legislation. It was landmark legislation and, we think, very important, very well crafted in terms of letting the president and the prime minister move forward in a way that is prudent and in a way that meets their own expectations that they put down when they negotiated this," Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asia Richard Boucher told lawmakers at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

"There have been a lot of studies and a lot of statements, you heard them all during the debate, about what this would do for India's military programmes, whether it would do anything at all. I still believe it wouldn't, I don't think the incentives are there," he said.

"As far as the potential for an arms race in the region, we've talked quite clearly to both India and Pakistan. Both of them tell us they don't want to see an arms race, they have no intention of starting one. And indeed, as you yourself noted, they're not only talking, they're making a lot of progress," the senior official added.

"On the issue of military versus civilian, the essence of the deal was a separation between the two and a separation that can be maintained and will be maintained by the Indians based on their decisions and policy, but also in cooperation with some of these international agreements."

Boucher said there were a series of safeguards that will be negotiated between India and the United States which the Congress will get a chance to clear.

"But indeed, there are a series of safeguards that will be negotiated between India and the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is one piece of the package that will be looked at, will be ready for the Congress to look at when we ask you to vote again on finalising the deal. We'll have a standard bilateral agreement between the United States and India that has the provisions required by law to make sure that there is adequate legal basis for our cooperation. Congress will get a chance to look at that as well, when it comes down to it," he added.

In his prepared remarks to the Committee, Boucher went beyond the civilian nuclear deal to speak of the kind of issues going on between the two countries, including consultations on the Doha Round expressing confidence that the strategic relationship will deepen and grow.

"Beyond the civil nuclear agreement, we're building a even stronger relationship with India in a whole host of areas. We're deepening our security ties. We're expanding our economic and business cooperations. We're working with India in the Doha Development Round negotiations," he said.

India, Pak acted in a statesman-like manner: US

WASHINGTON: Observing that India and Pakistan have acted in a statesman-like manner during their anti-terror talks, the United States has said there has been a considerable expansion in the range of dialogue between the two countries and a number of new ideas for resolution of issues like Kashmir have been brought in.

"I think it's quite positive. They've both acted in a very statesman-like manner. They've expanded the range of discussions and I think the depth of discussions as well," US Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher told lawmakers when the issue of India and Pakistan came up at a hearing of the Middle East/South Asia sub-committee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

"There are a number of new ideas in play on the question of Kashmir and dealing with some of the specific disagreements like Sir Creek and Siachen.

"But they're also discussing other things, confidence-building in nuclear and conventional forces. They just had this week the counter-terrorism discussions, the new mechanism to discuss terrorism problems and discuss the bombing of the train which affected them all so deeply," Boucher said.

Asked if he believed if the current framework for discussions made sense and it is in the mutual interest of both New Delhi and Islamabad to continue the progress, Boucher replied 'Absolutely'.

"I think the signs are quite positive, and certainly the United States has been very encouraged," he said.