No parity for Pakistan

Whenever the Indian Prime Minister travels abroad, the shadow of Pakistan inevitably follows. But this time, the Bush Administration appears...

Whenever the Indian Prime Minister travels abroad, the shadow of Pakistan inevitably follows. But this time, the Bush Administration appears determined not to colour the attempt to transform Indo-US relations with the Pakistan factor.

Hours before Singh left Delhi for Washington, news filtered in that Pak Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s visit to the US has been postponed. Earlier, reports in Delhi had suggested that Pakistan was pulling out all stops to get the Bush Administration accept a visit from the Pak premier as close as possible to Singh’s visit to Washington, if possible in July itself.

Pakistan lobbyists in Washington were also mobilising support in the US Congress to get Aziz address a joint session. Arguments in Pakistan have already surfaced that if the US cuts a nuclear deal with India, a similar one should also be offered to Pakistan. While Pakistani ambitions were understandable, the moment, for now at least, belongs to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Heavy on science

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On major foreign visits that Indian Prime Ministers undertake, Cabinet ministers tend to crowd in. But not in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s delegation to Washington. The only Cabinet Minister on the delegation is the External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh who joined the PM today in Washington. Natwar Singh had left Delhi earlier for consultations in New York to give a final shape to the faltering attempt by India, Japan, Germany and Brazil to get the United Nations General Assembly adopt a framework resolution for the expansion of the Security Council.

But the tribe that dominates Singh’s team in Washington is the scientific one. Secretaries of three Science and Technology Departments are all on board the PM’s aircraft. They reflect the intense focus on technology related issues on Singh’s agenda in Washington.

Dr Anil Kakodkar, India’s top nuclear gun, will have a key role in finalising the potential new atomic bargains between India and the United States. Nuclear reconciliation between the two nations and the resumption of cooperation on civil nuclear energy is at the top of the PM’s mind as he arrives in Washington.

G Madhavan Nair, Secretary, Department of Space, too has high stakes. Liberalisation of American rules on space cooperation with India would allow Nair to plan big on positioning India to greater heights in the global commerce on space related technologies and services.

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Dr V S Ramamurty, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, has been involved in finalising a number of new agreements for Indo-US cooperation in areas like biotechnology and nano sciences. For the first time in years, India and US are now set to sign agreements for joint funding of S&T projects.

Blair House for few

When he arrives at the Andrews Air Force Base in Washington for a ceremonial reception, Singh will be driven straight to Blair House, the official residence for visiting dignitaries to the American capital since 1942. Blair House, located right across the White House on the Pennsylvania Avenue, was built in 1824 for the first Surgeon General of the United States, Dr Joseph Lovell. It was bought by Francis Blair, a member of President Andrew Jackson’s kitchen cabinet in the 1830s.

Besides Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, only the National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Principal Secretary T K A Nair get to stay with the PM at Blair House. The rest of the delegation will be staying at the equally famous Willard Hotel not too far from the White House.