New Delhi: Singh expressed hope that the US would be "more liberal" in
transferring technologies to India and clear the way for implementing
the landmark agreement on nuclear cooperation.
The Prime Minister
also said that he has no apprehensions about the United States viewing
India differently because of a change of administration in Washington.
"I have no apprehension that our relationship with the United States will change because of a change of administration."
Elaborating further,
he said that credit for the relationship that existed between India and
United States should go to the Indian-American community and assorted
institutions, lobbies, caucuses and bodies representing India''s
interests in the United States in a comprehensive and positive manner.
"There is no doubt
about the role that people-to-people contacts, the large
Indian-American community, has played and contributed to changing the
way the United States, and indeed the world views India now. Nearly
every Indian family has a relative in the United States, and this is
testimony to the warm relations that these two countries
enjoy," said Dr. Singh.
Asked for his
comments on what he saw as the key factors responsible for the global
financial meltdown, Singh replied: "Lack of regulation. A monetary
policy that was far too liberal; that should have been tightened well
in time."
He further said India was more prudent than the other countries.
"Good supervision and natural prudence has helped us to tide over this crisis," he added.
As far as the
financial the United States was concerned, Singh said: "The US always
has shown a remarkable ability and consistency in bouncing back from
its economic problems."
On the prevailing
situation in Afghanistan, Dr. Singh said that a decade ago, the
emergence of the Taliban had created a problem in the South Asian and
Central Asian region, and its disappearance post 9/11 was a blessing.
Asked how he saw
Afghanistan emerging as nation from years and decades of war-ravaged
ruin, he said that it was for Afghan President Hamid Karzai to take
responsibility in his second term to harmonize and bringing together
all elements in Afghanistan with the help of a purposeful government.
He welcomed the US
initiative to work for a better, improved and democratic Afghanistan,
but was very skeptical about Pakistan''s objections in that country.
"Pakistan''s
objectives in Afghanistan not necessarily in harmony with American
objectives. Having said that, who am I to judge whether the Pakistan
Government and the Pakistan Army is moving to remove the Afghan
Taliban," said Singh.
Insofar as who was
running Pakistan, Dr. Singh appeared quite emphatic when he stated that
the Pakistan Army is running the country. "It is not clear if the President (Zardari) is in charge of the army," Singh added.
Source ANI
