We seek a robust multi-faceted relationship that gives officials outside Delhi and Washington a stake in the relationship, so that the mayor of Fresno, California, can discuss new agricultural seed varieties with his counterpart in Punjab; or the chief minister of Rajasthan can exchange strategies for alternative energy with the governor of Texas. My own home state has already sent Governor O’Malley here to India to develop relations, as well. Over the last decade growing relations between our states and cities have further incubated the vast people-to-people ties that are the foundation of our partnership. In the fields of education, business or innovation, more connectivity is happening actually outside of Delhi and outside of Washington than ever before.
We envision an energy relationship where American-designed nuclear plants power homes in Andhra Pradesh and Atlanta alike, and our scientists work together to develop alternative energy sources that will meet the demands of tomorrow. We support Indian leadership in Asia. As the secretary stated in her Chennai address last year, we view India as a pillar of economic and political stability in the Asia Pacific. India’s growing commercial ties with Bangladesh, its historic progress in fostering trade with Pakistan, strategic investments in Afghan mining or tapping Central Asian energy resources, India’s Asia strategy of supporting open markets will reap enormous benefits for all segments of its society.
And, engagement in Asia means across all of Asia, including the Indian Ocean region. As my counterpart Foreign Secretary Mathai said recently, “The Indian Ocean is central to India’s economy and its security — a region of growing strategic attention.” We believe in the power of technology to create new opportunities for our citizens. I can’t think of an area where there is more potential for cooperation and co-investment. Innovative technologies have the power to change in a single generation the way we travel, commute, communicate, work and live. People ask me what’s changed most since I left the department a decade ago, and I can say it in one word — Blackberries. Nothing is the same, and that will change ten years from now in ways none of us can even imagine. From power generation and resource management and road development, India can rely on the US to be a partner in finding technological solutions of tomorrow.
We want a defence relationship where at a moment’s notice our militaries could plan a joint peacekeeping operation or a humanitarian evacuation. Where our scientists and industry leaders ask not only how much or how many, but why not? The next level in our relationship will require bureaucratic changes in both our governments, but this is an area of the relationship where we cannot afford to be unambitious.
We believe in the power of the New Silk Road, or the Grand Trunk Road, or traditional trading routes — whatever title you want to give it. We envision a network of economic and transit connections running throughout Central and South Asia. Road and rail networks, power grids, gas pipelines — these are the physical manifestations of the New Silk Road and we hope to see them realised by 2025. India’s role in this transformation is vital and in many ways, you were there long before we started talking about it. It will take time before we see Turkmen gas flowing to South Asia or iron ore being mined from Hajigak, but each small step moves us closer towards realising a grand vision for the future of the region — a future where Afghanistan will have its best chance to be stable, secure and increasingly prosperous. This is not news to the Government of India or the Indian private sector, both of which have been actively investing in Afghanistan for years. Whether in agri-business, energy, textiles, extractive industries, construction, transport, logistics — I could go on and on. Current estimates suggest India-Afghanistan trade could double to $1 billion by 2012. Even today, India accounts for one-quarter of Afghanistan’s exports. Prime Minister Singh has said he dreams of a day when one can have breakfast in Amritsar, lunch in Lahore, and dinner in Kabul. We have begun to see the region implement the logistics of that vision.
Finally, we seek to build a wide-ranging security relationship at the local, state and federal levels that can address the unconventional security threats our two countries face in the 21st century. Whether it’s a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative plotting a terrorist attack against our citizens, a pirate endangering freedom of navigation on the high seas or an internet hacker seeking to exploit sensitive information through a cyber attack, governments, private industry and civil society must be able to work together in real time to address these asymmetrical threats.
Question: (inaudible) Madam, on security.
Sherman: Thank you for your comments and for your question. I think that the US and India are working very well together on counterterrorism. And, India and the US are both part of the Global Counterterrorism Forum that has met already and will meet again in June; and both the US and India I think will be present at that forum which will take place in Istanbul this time.
We have just posted on our website as part of our rewards programme a $10-million reward and a $2-million reward for leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba. And, I think that we are very committed to this effort, as is India. It is very crucial whether it is in India where the US also lost six Americans in the attack in Mumbai or it is anywhere else in the world. I was just in five countries in Africa which face constant threats, as well. That we all use these global forums to try to deal with this asymmetric threat. It is something that India brings skills and capabilities to the table, we bring skills and capabilities to the table, as do other countries. And, we must all join together to deal with this threat, so thank you for raising the concern.
Edited excerpt from a speech by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, during her visit to India, in New Delhi on April 2
