1. Foreign Relations: General & US
An essay in the Times of India was supportive of Indian diplomacy in 2000, which pushed ahead relations with Russia, the US and the PRC, but argued that there was still no thaw in India-Pakistan relations.
"India glides past a difficult year"
M.D. Nalapat argued in the Times of India that India has exhibited a land-locked mentality that prevents it from appreciating the role that the Indian Navy plays in protecting the country. Nalapat further argued that India and the PRC should develop a strategic partnership to dominate the regional sea lanes, but states that the PRC's relationship with Pakistan inhibits the India-PRC relationship from developing. A second essay by Nalapat examined the prospective US administration policy under President-elect George W. Bush.
"India needs to secure water frontiers"
"Will Bush continue Clinton's single-issue India policy?"
A report by the US-based think-tank RAND, co-authored by Zalmay Khalilzad, stated that the US should develop a foreign policy towards India that is independent of its regional role. The report was also critical of Pakistan's role in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Khalilzad has been named as a member of President-elect George W. Bush's transition team.
"Forge special ties with India, Rand tells Bush"