About the Author Avtar Singh Bhasin (b.1935) B.A (Hons); M. A in History. Initially he had short stint of service in the National Archives of India and the Ministry of Defence before joining the Ministry of External Affairs where he served for three decades, retiring in 1993 as Director of Historical Division. He has served in the Indian missions in Kathmandu, Bonn, Vienna and Lagos. He travelled to several other countries in the discharge of his duties in the Ministry. Some of the countries visited were USA, China, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus etc. He was member of several ministerial and official delegations for discussions with various countries both in India and abroad. Since his retirement he has taken to academic research. He was Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Historical Research from 1994 to 1996. He was Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library from 1997 to 2001. He has authored and edited several books on South Asian affairs. He also contributed several articles in newspapers on developments in the neighbouring countries. His seventy-five pieces on Partition and Freedom were published in the Asian Age consecutively from June 1 to August 14, 1997 coinciding with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Independence. 1 INDIA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS - 2007 DOCUMENTS PART – I 3 INDIA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS - 2007 DOCUMENTS PART - I Edited and Introduced by: AVTAR SINGH BHASIN PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH PUBLIC DIPLOMACY DIVISION MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS GEETIKA PUBLISHERS NEW DELHI – 110 028 4 Published by GG GEETIKA PUBLISHERS A-51/II Naraina Vihar, New Delhi - 110028 Tele : 98-111-57294 : 011-2577-1897 e-mail:
[email protected] www.geetikapublishers.in March – 2008 © Avtar Singh Bhasin ISBN: 978-81-903150-7-4 Printed and bound in India at Kumar Offset, New Delhi Distributed by: GEETIKA PUBLISHERS A-51/II NARAINA VIHAR NEW DELHI – 110028 (INDIA) 5 President of India Mrs.