DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 (PAGE 9) 'Talk to India over basing US troops to tackle terror groups' Chidambaram hits out NEW YORK, Jan 22: Washington and New Delhi In recent years, Washington rity threats would still be a high that the primary means by would be "politically sensitive" and New Delhi have on their priority for Washington in the which a hostile Pakistan would The US should discuss with and so should begin only after part taken steps to expand their context of an Asia-centric undermine India is through ter- at BJP, Narendra Modi India after its general elections the next Indian Government is counter-terror cooperation with Pakistan strategy. rorism. the possibility of basing elected in the spring. the intention of building "In addition to offering the Even a marginal decrease in DAVOS, Jan 22: BJP does not represent all sec- weeks of it coming to power in American military and intelli- "If diplomatic discussions defences against future attacks best geographical vantage point India’s growth rate will prolong tions of India and it does not Delhi and it remains to be seen gence operatives in the country As India prepares for elec- make progress, the Pentagon like the Lashkar-e-Toiba strike for US military and intelligence its developmental path and even have presence in many whether an “urban rejection” of to address threats posed by tions, Finance Minister P should work with members of on Mumbai in November 2008. operations against Pakistan- diminish its capacity to play a parts of the country. mainstream parties that was Pakistan-based terror groups in a Chidambaram today hit out at the US intelligence community The report said that given based security threats, it would greater role in the world in ways “It has got policies that seen in Delhi elections would be post- Afghanistan context, a BJP terming its economic poli- to develop specific implementa- persistent terrorist threats and build closer working relation- Washington hopes to see in the would destroy the very idea of replicated in other parts of the think-tank here has said. cies as retrograde and “blood- tion plans for on-the-ground Pakistan's "clear lack of capacity ships that serve the broader US decades to come, including with India. Their’s a blood-eyed eco- country. A special report titled eyed” and asked why the nomic model,” he said. “One time that Mrs Gandhi operations in India," he said. and, in some cases, will" to tack- goal of partnership with India. respect to "balancing Chinese 'Reorienting US Pakistan Opposition Party’s Prime Asked about the next Prime stumbled and brought in an The basis for Markey's argu- le them, Washington would need "To be clear, an Asia-orient- influence in Asia". Strategy: From Af-Pak to Asia' Ministerial candidate Narendra Minister, Chidambaram said, authoritative model that was at ment is that while Washington to ramp up its efforts in India ed strategy toward Pakistan It added that India's long- by the Council on Foreign Modi never fielded a Muslim “nothing is impossible, but it is the time of Emergency, it failed and Islamabad have found com- considerably, including even to would suffer if it is defined pri- term economic growth is Relations (CFR) also recom- candidate. unlikely because Congress party and she had to go back,” mon cause in fighting against the point of establishing military marily by an overt US tilt already hampered by Pakistan’s mends that the US should launch He also expressed confi- is clear that if Congress is in Chidambaram said. Pakistan's homegrown Taliban and intelligence facilities on toward India at Pakistan’s obstruction of overland access a new diplomatic dialogue with dence that Rahul Gandhi would position to form a Government In Delhi elections the rejec- insurgents, Pakistan has been Indian soil. expense," it said. to energy resources in Central China, India and Pakistan to be Prime Minister if Congress it will be headed by Rahul tion was for both Congress and unwilling to tackle threats posed "Yet any such plan would The report also recommends Asia. The persistence of politi- reduce prospects for regional comes back to power, saying the Gandhi”. BJP, he said, adding that one by the Haqqani network or LeT immediately run up against that US efforts to promote cal barriers to commerce with tension and violence. young leader as enough “fire in In 2004 Sonia Gandhi was was ruling the State forcing Washington to reconsid- India’s lingering ambivalence greater counter-terror coopera- Pakistan, which would other- "Starting with the national his belly” for the post, although elected leader, but the next day Government and the other er the wisdom of remaining security adviser to the prime about tighter ties with the US. A tion with India would need to be wise be as natural a trade and it was unlikely that any party she declined and another leader municipal bodies. minister of India, senior US heavily dependent on US per- declared US military/intelli- complemented by diplomatic investment partner as Canada is would get majority and polls was chosen. That model has “But it is just a few weeks national security officials should sonnel and facilities now based gence presence in India, even if outreach to China. to the United States, will retard were likely to throw a “very worked, but that does not mean and we are seeing an unravel- begin to discuss options for sig- in Afghanistan. directed against Pakistan-based "The main US goal would be India's growth. very fractured mandate”. that we will have same model ling of the Aam Aadmi Party,” nificantly expanded counter-ter- "Over the long run (and per- security threats, is for now a to encourage Beijing to counsel "The backdrop of persistent Speaking at the World again, he said. he said. ror cooperation with their Indian haps much sooner if Washington political nonstarter in New restraint in Islamabad. territorial disputes and deep dis- Economic Forum (WEF) “If Congress is called to Saying that he was not privy counterparts, up to and including is unable to negotiate a satisfac- Delhi, where Indian leaders jeal- Fortunately, China’s growing trust makes new Indo-Pakistani Annual Meeting here, form the Government, I’m pret- to discussions in the State party conflicts stemming from cross- the possibility of basing US mil- tory bilateral security agreement ously guard their freedom from interest in a secure western fron- Chidambaram also took dig at ty certain in my mind that Rahul unit regarding support to AAP, border violence, proxy conflicts itary and/or intelligence opera- with Kabul), maintaining a binding alliances," the report tier, concerns about violent Aam Aadmi Party, saying there Gandhi will be the Prime Chidambaram said Congress in Afghanistan, or access to tives in India to address foothold in landlocked cautioned. extremism, and desire to expand was no place for mob-democra- Minister,” he said. party was divided in its decision water (particularly freshwater Pakistan-based terrorist threats Afghanistan as a means to deal It added that alternative US commercial activities in India cy in India and the country was Asked whether Rahul to give outside support to AAP from the annual Himalayan gla- in a post-Afghanistan context," with Pakistan-based security basing arrangements on the and Central Asia lead Beijing to a party-based democracy where Gandhi had enough fire in his and it was one section favouring cier melt) quite plausible. the report's author, Daniel threats is likely to be extraordi- Arabian Peninsula would likely share with Washington at least a individuals can not be bigger belly for the PM post, the support that prevailed. "And unlike early Indo- Markey, who is CFR senior fel- narily difficult and costly. In prove more diplomatically feasi- basic desire to see Pakistan rein than a party. Chidambaram said: “There was Responding to a query on Pakistani wars, any future con- low for India, Pakistan, and light of Pakistan's geographic ble in the short-to-medium term. in its terrorists and reduce ten- On BJP being anti-muslim, enough fire in his belly when he how BJP can be described as flict would have the potential to South Asia, said. location, India is the obvious US However, seeking closer sions with India," it said. Chidambaram said some sec- spoke at the AICC meeting”. following ‘blood-eyed’ eco- escalate past the nuclear thresh- Markey acknowledged such alternative to Afghanistan," he cooperation with India on On Pakistan as a threat to tions of Muslim people may On upcoming general elec- nomic model when factories old," the report added. (PTI) conversations between said. addressing Pakistan-based secu- India's growth, the report said have voted for BJP, as Narendra tions, Chidambaram said it may were not being destroyed in Modi himself claims, but the be an unfortunate event that no Gujarat and businessmen were fact is that Modi has never field- party is a clear winner and no happy, Chidambaram said it is Kejriwal unwell, skips office Pressure mounts for action against Bharti ed any Muslim candidate ever one gets majority, as the elec- not about destroying factories. in any election in his state. tions are likely to throw a very Giving examples, he said GHAZIABAD, Jan 22: tests, including CT scan on him. NEW DELHI, Jan 22: statement in camera under Sec ing and is not acceptable". “What does that mean,” he won- fractured mandate. that BJP is opposing multi brand We have asked him to take rest 164 CrPC which is admissible in Krishnan alleged that the Pressure today mounted for dered.