'Bangalore need not be scared of Obama'

US AND THEM: Top Obama aide Karl Inderfurth speaks on Devil's Advocate.

.' class='imgGbor' />

      

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

• Obama finally calls Singh, discusses Indo-US ties

• N-deal puts a freeze on N-test: Saran

• LIve Webcast: Yashwant Sinha on Devil's Advocate

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Staff strike at one oil firm ends, others to follow suit 

• Satyam: A new storm in India's cup of woes 

• 'Govt, regulator ignored warning about Satyam'  

• Situation on India-Pak border fragile: Gilani 

• Clean up the terror camps: US lawmaker tells Pak 

• Pak role in 26/11 attacks possible: Imran Khan 

• US sees 26/11 as model for future terrorism 

• India convinced of Pak army role in Mumbai attacks 

• Noida rape: Boy confesses, Panchayat says not guilty 

• Sanjay Dutt speaks like a politician, says no comments 

• Oil PSU strike continues, consumers bear the brunt 

• Pak role in 26/11 attacks possible: Imran Khan 

• US backs India on 26/11 but Pak not listening 

• Satyam fiasco could affect Hyd metro rail project  

• Power slips out of Soren's hands yet again 

• Rampant criminal activities make Noida insecure  

• Not amused by starry tantrums? here are the fetishes 

• Watch: John Abraham's Aashayein stuck in the cans 

• Three Indian artists nominated for Grammys 

• Recession-hit US porn industry demands bailout 

• Pak role in 26/11 attacks possible: Imran Khan 

• India convinced of Pak army role in Mumbai attacks 

• Bringing Satyam auditor PwC to book may not be easy 

• Noida rape: Boy confesses, Panchayat says not guilty 

• Oil PSU strike continues, consumers bear the brunt 

• 'Govt, regulator ignored warning about Satyam'  

• Satyam: A new storm in India's cup of woes 

• US backs India on 26/11 but Pak not listening 

• Slumdog Millionaire sweeps Critics Choice Awards 

• Staff strike at one oil firm ends, others to follow suit 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Karan Thapar: What sort of relations can India expect from America ruled by Barack Obama? That’s the key issue I shall explore with former assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and a former member of Election Advisory Body team of the Obama campaign Karl Inderfurth.

Ambassador Inderfurth, Barack Obama will become the President of the United States at a time when the relations between the two countries are better than ever before. Many people in India believe this because of the commitment and high priority given to them by George Bush. But clearly Barack Obama will have priorities of his own and that commitment may not last. Should India be concerned about that?

Karl Inderfurth: No.

Karan Thapar: Not at all?

Karl Inderfurth: No, not at all. The President-elect wrote a letter to PM Manmohan Singh in September and said US-India relations will be a priority for his administration.

I have no doubt it will be and will not only build on the excellent foundation in work that President Bush has done but before that what President Clinton did (during) that very important visit to New Delhi in March 2000. So you have a democratic administration, a Republic administration both working in the same direction – to strengthen US-India ties. I am convinced they will continue till into the next Democratic administration.

Karan Thapar: So the sharply rising trajectory in relations is going to continue to rise as sharply as it has been?

Karl Inderfurth: Yes, it will. Just like that very successful Indian moon shot, it’s going to continue to go up.

Karan Thapar: Okay. Let me test the confidence with which you say that and let me begin by first focusing on the interview the President-elect gave to the Time magazine in October.

He said he wants to try and resolve Kashmir in a serious way; he called it a critical task and said he will devote serious diplomatic resources to get a special envoy in there and seemed to suggest it might even be Bill Clinton. Is this firm intention or just loud thinking?

Karl Inderfurth: It wasn’t firm intention. I think that as an interview that got a great deal of attention. I think there’s no question of right approach to Kashmir but to allow the two parties – India and Pakistan to address themselves bilaterally taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. I have no doubt at all (that should be) the approach of the administration and I also believe the US is supportive of that process.

I don’t believe that President elect has made any decision about how he intends to accomplish helping support that process. If that special envoy role is looked at, it’’ only be pursued if it’s helpful and appropriate, he has said that. So I think too much is being made of that. Let him take off. He has few more days to get through the transition and January 20 we will see where the administration goes.

Karan Thapar: You say too much us being made of the Time magazine interview but the truth is that’s not the only occasion that the President-elect has spoken in such manner.

Few days after the Time magazine, he gave an interview to MSNBC where he seemed to speak in very much the same language and earlier, when he wrote an article for Foreign Affairs, he seemed to touch upon Kashmir as well. Many people in India think this is a case of well considered comments rather than off-the-cuff remarks.