4. US Sanctions and Nonproliferation Concerns
C. Raja Mohan writes in The Hindu that the Bush administration has sharpened the debate in the US between those willing to aid Indian and Pakistani command and control of their nuclear arsenals in the name of security while others object under the principle of nonproliferation. Mohan states that new pragmatism on nonproliferation could bring India into the international regime on nuclear transfers and allow it access to new nuclear power reactors.
"U.S. n-assistance to India, Pak.?"
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca met in Pakistan with leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf as part of a six-day visit to the region. It is believed that Musharraf and Rocca discussed US sanctions on Pakistan. Rocca also met with other Pakistani government officials. Rocca told reporters that the US was reviewing the nuclear-related sanctions, but that the democracy-related sanctions would remain in place until democracy was fully restored. Seeking to improve US relations with both Pakistan and India, Rocca said, "Non-proliferation remains an important goal of US policy. But we want to expand and transform our engagement on defense issues, talking more about potential areas of cooperation while continuing to narrow our differences." The Hindu states that Rocca expressed that the US in interested in India and Pakistan continuing the dialogue begun at the Agra summit.
"Musharraf seeks lifting of U.S. sanctions"
"Lifting of sanctions linked to democracy: US wants normal ties with Pakistan: Rocca"
"US re-evaluating sanctions: Rocca"
"Rocca wraps up South Asia trip"
"U.S. wants India, Pak. to continue dialogue"
Pakistan Finance Minister Shoukat Aziz stated that while the US maintains its sanctions against Pakistan, the US is aiding Pakistan to acquire much needed loans. Aziz cited a favorable report from the Bush administration that helped Pakistan get loans from the IMF and the World Bank.
"U.S. helping Pak.: Aziz"
The Hindu published an essay that argues that it is clear from US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca's visit that the US wants to reorganize its relations with all the states of South Asia on a stand-along manner, independent from its relations with other regional states. According to the essay, while US relations with Pakistan focused on democracy and with India on trade, the US approaches all states in the region from the policy goals of nonproliferation, anti-terrorism and regional peace and security.
"The U.S. stake in South Asia"
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca also met with the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, the highest-level meeting between the US and the Taliban, but she said no new ground was broken. Taliban representative Mullah Abdus Salam Zaeff reportedly told Rocca that while Afghanistan was against terrorism, it would not expel guests who had fought alongside the Afghans against the Soviet Union.
"Lifting of sanctions linked to democracy: US wants normal ties with Pakistan: Rocca"
"Rocca holds talks with Kabul envoy"