 "Barack Obama. File photo")
President Barack Obama on Sunday promised to “look at” export controls to make sure Indian firms have the same access to American technologies as “closest allies” and expressed the hope that the new year would see deals for the US companies to build nuclear reactors in India.
Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to cut red tape and make it easier for doing business in India, he said both countries can do even more to increase the trade and investment that creates jobs for people in both nations.
He said the bilateral trade “is still just a fraction of what it could be” and both countries can do more. Annual bilateral trade between India and the US is now around $100 billion - rising five-fold in the last decade. Obama and Modi have set a goal of taking it to $500 billion in the next few years.
“Under our civil nuclear agreement, we’re hopeful that this year will see deals for US companies to build new reactors, which will mean more reliable electricity for Indians... For our part, the United States continues to look at our export controls to make sure Indian companies have the same access to American technology as our closest allies,” Obama told PTI in wide-ranging interview.
Terming the Pathankot terror strike as “another example of the inexcusable terrorism that India has endured for too long”, Obama demanded of Pakistan that it “delegitimise, disrupt and dismantle” terrorist networks that operate from its territory. In a tough message, Obama said Pakistan “can and must” take more effective action against terrorist groups based there, emphasising that "there must be zero tolerance for safe havens and terrorists must be brought to justice.” “Pakistan has an opportunity to show that it is serious about delegitimising, disrupting and dismantling terror networks”, Obama told PTI in an interview here during which he answered a wide range of questions covering Indo-US ties, terrorism and outcome of the Paris climate change summit.
Obama gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reaching out to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif after the Pathankot attack and said, “both leaders are advancing a dialogue on how to confront violent extremism and terrorism across the region.”
Voicing his belief that the Indo-US relationship can be one of the defining partnerships of the century, Obama said that Modi shared his enthusiasm for a strong partnership and "we have developed a friendship and close working relationship, including our conversations on the new secure lines between our offices".
Asked if the relationship has achieved its full potential, the President replied, "Absolutely not." "I believe there's still so much more we can be doing together to realise the full potential of our partnership in the three areas I identified last year."
NGOs should not be stifled, says Obama
In an apparent criticism of the Indian government's crackdown on certain NGOs, US President Barack Obama said civil society groups that strengthen communities need to be supported and not “stifled’’. The US has been critical of the Indian government's action against NGOs, particularly Greenpeace which was barred from receiving foreign funds and whose registration was cancelled in last September . Washington had expressed worries about the “potentially chilling effects of such actions”.
Obama made a reference to the civil society groups in the course of an interview to PTI.
The President emphasised that there was much more that the US and India can do together and went on to say "India can be a strong voice in support of the universal rights and dignity of all people, regardless of background or religion. We need to support, not stifle, the civil society groups that strengthen communities".
