The United States Secretary of Defence, Mr. Donald H. Rumsfeld, called on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, here today. They discussed bilateral issues and the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Rumsfeld said that President George Bush had impressed upon all his senior colleagues the importance of improving relations with India. Dr. Singh recalled his meeting with President Bush and said he was looking forward to receiving him in New Delhi in 2005. Both underscored the importance of the “shared commitment to democracy” of both India and U.S and took note of the “multi-faceted nature of the bilateral relationship”.
Dr. Singh reiterated his commitment to building peace, security and stability in South Asia and to India’s willingness to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan as long as Pakistan remains committed to President Pervez Musharraf’s January 6, 2004 assurance to check cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Singh welcomed the peaceful conduct of elections in Afghanistan and expressed the hope that elections would also be conducted in Iraq. In response to Mr. Rumsfeld’s observation that India had been “very generous” in extending assistance and support to Afghanistan, Dr. Singh said, “we can do a lot more to help in Afghanistan if we are given transit facilities by Pakistan. Transit facilities are a normal right extended by neighbours to each other in all civilized societies”.
Dr. Singh also agreed with Mr. Rumsfeld that a return to democracy in Iraq and the strengthening of Iraq’s secular credentials would be in the interests of the people of Iraq. Dr. Singh said India would help in the reconstruction of a secular and democratic Iraq.
(Release ID :5542)