Natwar proposes common nuclear policy for Asia

To differentiate his brand of foreign policy from that of the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Foreign Minister K Natwar Singh today suggested a slew of radical measures that the Manmohan Singh government could consider taking, including proposing a common policy for the three nuclear-capable states in Asia "" China, Pakistan and India.

He also said the position taken by India on ballistic missile defence proposed by the US was the position of "one individual, not the country", signalling that the new political dispensation might rework elements of the boquet of issues relating to the use of space and dual-use technologies.

Singh clarified that a common nuclear policy for the three nuclear powers was not a proposal that was likely to come up at the meeting of officials from India and Pakistan to be held here on June 19 and 20 to discuss nuclear confidence-building measures (CBM). He added that it was a general principle that would be discussed among the three nations.

The Indo-Pakistan foreign secretary-level talks are likely to held on June 27 and 28.

However, how Singh's proposal of a common nuclear policy can even take off is a mystery because Pakistan considers India the target of its nuclear programme.

India, when it tested its bomb in 1998, had identified China and Pakistan as the two primary reasons for undertaking testing. China, in turn, views the US as a potential nuclear threat.

Singh also announced that his first foreign visit would be to Nepal on June 4 and 5.

Singh also outlined the government's priorities: an "acrimony-free, multi-faceted relationship" with the US despite differences "that will not be aired publicly"; the promise that the Indo-US agenda will not be changed in the Manmohan Singh regime and that there would be "goodwill, not growling" contrary to the general perception; a new forward-looking relationship with Pakistan that is not a prisoner of the past, because "the past is strewn with booby traps and high-tension wires"; an emphatic continuance of people-to-people policies vis-a-vis Pakistan; a new dynamism to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and redefining the idea of the Non-aligned Movement.

Singh said protocol issues would not prevent Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the steering committee of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), from visiting Pakistan. "When Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi went to Islamabad they were treated as heads of government," he said.

Singh said the government was likely to announce the formation of the Political Affairs Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Security in the next two or three days.