PM To Meet Obama, To Discuss Af-Pak,Nuclear Terrorism
India will voice its apprehensions over nuclear material in Pakistan falling into the hands of terrorists at the Nuclear Security Summit here as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prepares to discuss the US' new Af-Pak strategy
India will voice its apprehensions over nuclear material in Pakistan falling into the hands of terrorists at the Nuclear Security Summit here as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prepares to discuss the US' new Af-Pak strategy with President Barack Obama on Sunday.
At the two-day Summit convened by Obama beginning Monday and to be attended by over 40 world leaders, Singh is expected to pitch for firm response to the challenges of proliferation and possibility of terrorists gaining access to nuclear material.
National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao are expected to articulate India's concerns on nuclear issues, especially atomic materials falling into the hands of terrorists in Pakistan, at the official-level meetings at the Summit that begins on Monday.
Sources said there is a risk of nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists, which is a matter of serious concern for India. Singh and Obama, who will meet at Blair House on Sunday, are expected to discuss Afghanistan in the context of the new Af-Pak strategy unveiled by the Obama Administration a few months back.
This is the first meeting between Singh and Obama after the US unveiled the Af-Pak strategy, under which more US troops will be sent to Afghanistan. They had last met here on November 24 during Singh's State Visit.
Ahead of the meeting, sources made it clear that India would continue to play a role in Afghanistan "with or without America" as it has crucial stakes in the stability of country on its periphery. The two leaders are also expected to discuss Pakistan where some important developments have taken place over the last few days, with Constitution being amended to strip the President of his sweeping powers.
However, sources said Indian establishment is not impressed by these developments as it feels that the military continues to wield enormous influence and power in Pakistan, preventing it to be a democracy in the real sense. The sources said India will face problems like access to the establishment, dealing with problem of terrorism and understanding what Pakistan is doing in Afghanistan.
Indian government also believes that Pakistan would not be entrusted with any prominent role in the affairs of Afghanistan even though "some parts" of Pakistan would be used by the US in Afghanistan.
About options that India has in case the US-led forces quit Afghanistan, the sources said India will devise its strategy according to the evolving situation and work with those who matter. On Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, the sources said it has been saying that it was willing to do more in that country in terms of fighting terrorism. "India will be happy if Pakistan does our job against terrorism," they said. The Summit, an initiative of Obama, will focus on dangers posed by clandestine proliferation and illicit trafficking of nuclear material and the possibility of terrorists acquiring atomic material.
Ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister said in New Delhi that nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive technologies are "legitimate concerns" which require "firm responses".
He emphasised the need for "highest standards of security" in the nuclear field to reinforce public faith in the benefit of atomic science. At the end of the two-day Summit, an outcome document will be released wherein all countries will be giving political commitment about the response to ensure that nuclear material and arsenal are safe. PTI