- Moscow (IANS) - India and
Russia have decried what they term U.S. double standards on combating
international
terrorism by ignoring the activities of foreign trained militants in
Kashmir
and Chechnya while focussing on Afghanistan.
-
- The concern was expressed during a telephonic
conversation
between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee Monday, informed sources said.
-
- While there was complete identity of views between them
on a global coalition for combating international terrorism, the two
leaders
are believed to have voiced fear that U.S. double standards could negate
the effort, the usually reliable sources said.
-
- The two countries have long advocated such a coalition
against international terrorism. They, however, find their cause ignored
in the current U.S. effort against Afghanistan, the sources said.
-
- Russia, which has been paying a heavy price in its battle
against Chechen terrorists trained in and financed from Afghan soil, has
been struggling to get U.S. support for its anti-terrorist campaign in
the Russian republic where Washington has often voiced support for
self-determination.
-
- New Delhi, on its part, complains that Pakistan-based
terrorist groups do not figure in the watchlist of international terrorists
identified by the U.S.
-
- What irks both Russia and India is that Pakistan, which
had helped to create the Taliban, is being treated as part of the solution.
While India has been asked to exercise restraint, Pakistan is being
complimented
for its support to the U.S. effort.
-
- The other sore point is that while Russia and India have
urged that the global anti-terrorist coalition be formed under U.N.
auspices,
the U.S. has virtually ignored the world body on the issue.
-
- There is also growing concern in Delhi and Moscow that
the U.S. has a hidden agenda that seeks to strengthen and perpetuate its
military presence in the region.
-
- There are differences too on the future political set-up.
While India and Russia are backing the Northern Alliance led by former
Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, the U.S. position on the issue
remains
ambiguous though it is now militarily backing the Alliance.
-
-
-
- MainPage
http://www.rense.com
-
-
-
- This
Site Served by TheHostPros
|