TOI

Mumbai attackers

Indrani Bagchi

What are the high and low points of our ties in the Obama years?

South China Sea

In the Obama administration’s early years, India worried about what a ‘G-2’ between US and China may mean for India. In 2016, how would you characterize US-China relations?

India’s been concerned about a more aggressive and expansionist China, leading to fears that the two countries might bump up against each other. Is that a matter of concern?

India has linked its NSG membership to its achievement of climate change goals. After the Seoul plenary failure, what are the chances of this before Obama demits office?

NSG membership

PM

and President Obama worked out a climate change document in Paris. What are the prospects of seeing that in practice?

What is the NSG roadmap?

Obama’s administration has put pressure on Pakistan regarding terrorists, but Pakistan-based groups continue to act against Indian and Afghan interests. Is there something more the US could do?

How does the South China Sea award by the UN tribunal affect US rebalance in the region?

You expended energy in completing the

nuclear deal. But Rouhani is under pressure from Khamenei and Iran is yet to see the deal’s economic fallout. Is it in danger?

Can the world defeat the IS?

Closer Russia-China ties worry India. It appears US sanctions on Russia may be speeding up that process..

US secretary of state John Kerry tellsthat the US is pushing Pak PM Nawaz Sharif & his army chief Raheel Sharif to take on terror groups.must be punished, LeT & Jaish crushed, he says in an interview with. Excerpts:The high point without doubt is now. We’ve reached a significant level of cooperation; 40 work groups are exploring everything from space to health, pharma to bio-technology, cyber to development to research on disease prevention, peacekeeping and more. We’re doing about $15bn defence trade, $105bn trade in goods and services. We see eye-to-eye on Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, Bay of Bengal,The downside in recent times would be the diplomatic confrontation (over diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s arrest). It wasn’t in our control but created an unfortunate situation.The relationship is one where we try to find things we agree on and manage our differences. China is a very important rising power and economy. We don’t stand in the way of that. It’s a mistake always to think G-2. We don’t look at the world that way. We don’t see relationships as a zero-sum game. It’s possible to find things to cooperate on as we did on climate change with China, but we have differences over South China Sea or what steps we ought to take to pressure DPRK.We’re both impactful players. We need to manage our relationship in a very thoughtful way.We don’t see it as a zero-sum game means we have a different relationship with India and the EU. We look to build a community of nations who can work together. This is why we look forward to G-20 where, hopefully, there is a shared agenda. We all care about prosperity, security, safety, good life for our citizens, stability and peace. We want to make sure we respond to global crises together: ebola, zika, earthquakes, or war as in Syria.Bottomline is India and US have ties few other countries have — our commitment to democracy, values we share about humanity, human rights. That’s a bond we share with only a handful.Of course it is. India is a big powerful nation, and will be the largest in terms of population, third largest economy, a critical player. When India and China bump up against each other we feel the vibrations. We have to find ways to resolve differences. We understand India’s rights, concerns. India is becoming a more proximate partner.I don’t think there is a linkage. We discussed this on Tuesday. I don’t think there should be a linkage, because they are not the same thing. We strongly supportfor India. I worked hard personally, called several ministers, President Obama called; we worked hard to get India in. We came shy by very few countries.We hope to have a roadmap to work out the differences and satisfy concerns of other countries. A roadmap that defines standards for future members. But that should not link itself to your willingness to help save the world from the effects of climate change. And I don’t think India is doing that. We can do both. Let’s do climate change and let’s get India into the NSG.Extremely good if India moves forward. The US and China have committed to do it in short order. I believe India will show the same leadership it showed in Paris. We are grateful. We worked closely with India. India deserves credit.Some countries were concerned if we let India in, what would the standards be for other non-NPT members to be admitted? We put forward ideas on how to make that evaluation. We’ll see President Xi Jinping at the Hangzhou G-20 summit. We want to make it happen before the year end.I’ve talked to Gen Raheel Sharif several times. I hope to meet with him soon.He’s asked to do that and I look forward to meeting him. We’ve had constructive conversations also with PM Nawaz Sharif. Both have committed that they will move — and are moving — against terrorists using their sanctuaries, they’re trying to put in place a no-sanctuary policy.I know they’ve taken risks and done some difficult things. It is not easy. There have been some terrible terror incidents against their own country. We need to understand this. But they are taking measures. We’d like to see the Haqqani network, specifically, taken on. We think the Mumbai attackers need to be brought to justice. The LeT needs to be prosecuted in the same way as other enemies, Jaish-e-Mohammed likewise.We’ve had a rebalance policy in Asia over the entire Obama administration. We have travelled extensively in Asia — myself, deputy secretary, secretary of commerce, homeland security, president, vice-president; not sure there’s a southeast Asian country I haven’t visited.The international tribunal decision has the effect of law. But we’re trying not to throw fuel on fire. We’re trying to encourage people to build a sustainable approach and structure. The Philippines indicated willingness to reach out to China. We encourage that. Diplomacy and sound thinking should resolve these disputes.We hope not. Iran is doing better under the deal. There are complaints from some quarters — we’re fighting to undo things that took years to build up, to have an impact. All sanctions we agreed to lift have been lifted. Banks — European, foreign and Asian — have a right to do business with Iran. If all of a sudden, Iran decided not to have the agreement, all those sanctions and confrontation would return. I don’t see how Iran’s economy benefits from that. There are always hurdles with bureaucracy, Iran also needs to be part of this solution. They need to modernize banking systems, open up the way they do business, encourage more capital investment.The US is ready to work with Iran. We hope Iran will reciprocate helping to solve the war in Yemen, in Syria, not have missiles going to Hezbollah, and not do things that create regional tension. The deal is a sound and fair way to eliminate the prospect of nuclear weapons while allowing the country to have peaceful nuclear power.Some people will always break a law, move in a different direction. But there is a difference between whether it is a manageable nuisance or a threat to the existence of society. IS began by presenting to Syria and Iraq a threat to their existence.We’re closing in on that space, reducing their ability to manoeuvre and grow; they have not taken one town or large swathe of land in a year. They have not been able to conduct a full offensive in that territory.We’re eliminating their leaders — just yesterday we eliminated a major leader, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani . We’re putting real squeeze. The kind of threat we lived with last year will end. People influenced by the internet, ideology or recruitment — we’re just working to end a war in Colombia that lasted 50 years. We have Cyprus to deal with, and Nagorno-Karabakh and Israel-Palestine.IS terrorism — radical, religious, extremist terrorism — will continue to have to be worked on for some years. We’ll win, ultimately. We have to continue to keep pressure on these groups, not allow them a moment to breathe, keep them on the defensive, protect people, our key obligation, so the real business of life can go on.Russia is not going to fall into anybody’s arms. It is not Russia’s nature. It is a proud country with enormous history, great talent and capacity. We wish it would sometimes direct all of that in a more constructive direction, ie Ukraine and Syria. We’ve cooperated with them on many things. They were an important partner in the Iran nuclear agreement; they’ve been constructive in taking fuel and destroying it, limiting the stockpiles.We worked together on getting chemical weapons out of Syria. We’re trying to get a cessation of hostilities in Syria. We’ve had conversations with them about Ukraine. Trying to see the Minsk agreement fully implemented. We have disagreements, you have to manage those.Minister Lavrov and I had a constructive day in Geneva. If we’re thoughtful, clear about our concerns… hopefully we can find a way forward with Russia. It is important that we do.