October 5, 2005
I JUST WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND THERE WE WERE IN BED TOGETHER:
India woos West for nuclear energy (Indrajit Basu, 10/06/05, Asia Times)
The US Congress may still be undecided on whether to ratify the recent India-US agreement between President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for enabling transfer of nuclear technology and fuel to India, but Delhi seems to be already moving ahead to entice foreign investors to invest in the country's ambitious nuclear-power plans.The Indian government is working on a policy to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country's nuclear-power sector, which if finalized, would be a new area for FDI. As with the much-debated retail sector, nuclear power too is currently out of bounds for foreign investors.
In a controversial policy shift, the US president entered into an agreement on July 18 with the Indian prime minister, which, subject to congressional approval, promised to change US laws so that nuclear-armed India gets from US - and willing other countries - help and cooperation for developing its civilian nuclear-power program. Beside the fact this sweeping new agreement is considered a diplomatic coup for India, it is also "a big step ahead" for the country's nuclear energy plans, and could open up the country's nuclear-power sector to foreign investments.
Remember how 9-11 was going to make us less insular? Well, the new U.S. alliance with India is the kind of thing that will radically alter the rest of the 21st century and effect nearly every person on the planet yet it's getting less press coverage and political notice than trivia like ANWR drilling.
MORE:
Ordinary people nudge India, Pakistan toward peace: The two countries have agreed to reestablish a trade panel, the latest in a series of confidence-building steps. (Anuj Chopra, 10/05/05, The Christian Science Monitor)
"Never before have common people played such an active role in improving relations. In earlier times, only governments and intelligentsia were principal actors," says Mubashir Hasan, a Pakistani expert on the peace process.Posted by Orrin Judd at October 5, 2005 8:27 AMBuilding on the goodwill generated by new bus service linking Muzaffarabad- Srinagar and Delhi-Lahore, a bus connecting Lahore-Amritsar will be launched next month. Visa protocols are also being relaxed on both sides for pilgrims and businessmen.
"People are tired of conflict and hatred," says Dr. Devi Shetty, a surgeon in Bangalore. He fondly reminisces how Noor Fathima, a 2-year-old girl from Lahore who traveled to India in 2003 for surgery, captured the hearts of millions rooting for her recovery. Dr. Shetty has since treated 250 Pakistani children at his hospital, and is working on building a children's hospital in Pakistan. Visa relaxations will ensure more kids can now cross the border for treatment.
The warming trend began as Pakistan shifted its orientation and cracked down on militant Islamic groups following Sept. 11, 2001. Past peace efforts have stalled over Indian concerns that Islamabad was not doing enough to curb attacks within India by Pakistani militants.
As I was driving to work this morning listening to Bill Bennett on the radio raging at Bush for nominating Miers, I was struck by a thought: Twenty years from now G.W. Bush will be revered in the same way that Reagan is, for his longlasting and profound impact on the world.
Posted by: fred at October 5, 2005 9:44 AMRapproachment with India began before Bush. It was fairly inevitable after the Berlin Wall fell, and India began market reforms. But Bush does deserve credit for running with the ball, and handling the Pakistan relationship delicately while doing it.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at October 5, 2005 11:59 AM