Interview with Gen (rtd) James Jones, National Security Advisor, US

Question: Can you give us a sense of the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue that concluded yesterday? What is so significant about it?

Answer: The strategic dialogue highlights in very concrete ways the close relationship that exists between India and the United States; between the Prime Minister and the President, between the multiplicity of the organs of our governments that have to do with a variety of things. It is not just a uni-dimensional relationship but it is much broader. And I think, the strategic dialogue is taking the relationship to unprecedented levels of co-operation between the two countries. Whether it is security or defense or energy or climate or nuclear issues or regional geo-political issues, it’s a relationship that is moving towards full maturity. I think these are very impressive days.

Question: President Obama has defined Indo-US relationship as very significant for 21st century. Can you explain in more concrete terms, what does it mean for the two countries?

Answer: Obviously, India is on a path of ascendency. It is destined to be a nation of global influence. It is extremely important that in the globe that countries like India and United States when they can have a national affinity for one another as expressed by the strong friendship that exists between in respect that exists between the two heads of State that this relationship can grow. We have converging values, we both want better lives for our citizens and our children, we want to eliminate the scourge of terrorism, we would like to have a better climate, a better management of our fragile planet and nations of influence can shape that globally. When there are two countries like ours that are working together along those lines that has a huge effect in other parts of the world for the better. So I think, on that scale of things, it is a very encouraging development.

Question: Please also give us a sense of how the relationship between the two countries has progressed in the field of security and counter-terrorism in the Obama Administration?

Answer: I think from day one, it has been a two way street. I think that President and the Prime Minister have laid out a strategic approach that is based on long term commitment and not just short term self interest, in our case the presence in the region. We have worked very hard to be mutually transparent in how we see things and there is a certain honesty and vibrancy about the relationship – it is frankly very pleasurable, it is open, it is honest, we have tried very hard to keep our Indian colleagues fully appraised of our strategy in Afghanistan, why we are there, what we hope to achieve, how we achieve. We have been hopefully equally transparent with what our policies, hopes and aspirations are for Pakistan and we have tried to be helpful in any way possible to diffuse any regional tensions recognizing that the ultimate solution has to be found among people who live in the region. So I think there is a great deal of visibility into these issues and there is not so much mystery as trust and confidence grows between all organs of our governments.

Question: India has its own concerns about Afghanistan – may be in terms of US withdrawing from that country…..

Answer: That’s one of the concerns. And as I said, in answer to your first question, that we think, we explained that we have hopefully explained that our policy is a long term policy, not a short term policy. We are not looking for ways out of Afghanistan. We are looking for means by which Afghans can take charge of their own destiny perhaps in a shorter time frame and not that we can leave; we can move on and bring the relationship to a different phase. So this is a good example of an issue that existed may be in early 2009, which is now much more well explained, well developed and better understood than the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Question: India is also sees that US has been successful in convincing Pakistan to take action against terrorist organizations that pose threat to the United States – the Taliban and al Qaeda. But those terrorist groups, which operate from Pakistan and target against India are roaming freely. So how do you address that concern?

Answer: I think that is a legitimate concern and I would even actually go beyond that I think, whether it is Pakistan or any other country in the 21st century, if a country wants to have a serious progressive position in the world where their economy develops, where their society develops and the instruments of governance are strong, you have to reject all forms of terrorism and as I explained several times in the press since my trip to Pakistan that that was part of the message that I carried on behalf of the President, to continue to – number one tell the Pakistanis that we are pleased with their actions today, but there has to be more. I am not asking them to do everything all at once, but for a clear commitment that all aspects of terrorism whether they are directed towards India or the United States or Afghanistan or any other country in the world that have an existence within their borders have to be eliminated for their own good, for their own future, for their own relationships and I am optimistic that they will be moving in the right direction.

Question: Do you see Pakistan sensitive to those concerns of India? Do you see in coming weeks and months they taking actions against those terrorist groups?

Answer: Well, I can’t predict what is going to happen in the short time frame, but I think, the logic of the message speaks for itself, I am very happy to see that there is some dialogue between Pakistan and India. If we listen to both sides, both sides are pleased with the current talks and we want to be helpful and we want to help particularly in those areas that causes friction and as I said this is a long term commitment. We would like to see the region ultimately much more stable, free of terrorism and full of economic interchange, a better way of life for all the people in the region, and a better association bilaterally with the United States.

Question: As you rightly said, India and Pakistan would be talking next month, to bridge their trust deficit and the US is already working on its own way to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan. How do you help India and Pakistan – both of which are your friends and strategic allies – to improve the relationship between the two countries?

Answer: We are offering the assistance, based on what both countries would like. We take the direction from India and Pakistan to try to be interlocutor that is handy and helpful. But basically, this has to be done by the Indian and Pakistani authorities. In whatever way can be are helpful, we are happy to help. We know that there are certain things that must be done, in order to bring about any kind of a long term resolution and that’s why bilaterally with Pakistan, we are focusing on problems of terrorism. We are encouraged by the actions that we have seen in the last year and we want to be able to encourage them and provide assistance so that they continue in this positive way. We want to show, countries like Pakistan which have this particular problem that there is a better way of life, there is the chance for quicker economic development, building confidence for business to invest in areas and countries that are generally roughly in natural resources but disincentivise economic investment because of the fear of terrorism. So it is really in those ways that we can be helpful.

Question: And what would you like India to do to improve relationship and atmosphere in the region?

Answer: I think, our relationship with India is on a very positive course, I think that the Prime Minister has shown great courage and leadership by pulling troops from the Pakistani border. We realize that there is a political cost for him. And we admire that gesture. He has been patient in supporting the talks, that has started. So I actually think, we are not in a position to give India advice. I think, if we can be in a position to be helpful in some ways that is how I would characterize our position right now.

Question: The Wall Street Journal did a couple of stories about you taking a letter from President Obama to President Zardari and in response the latter wrote back that they are willing to take strong steps against terrorism, but they submitted a wish list to you in return – this included helping Pakistan to improve its relationship with India and resolving the Kashmir dispute. What is your viewpoint on Kashmir dispute?

Answer: Again it would be wrong to think that the United States is going to be able to come up with a formula for it that somehow can be dropped down on the two countries. I think, getting the two countries to talk about is the first step and then I think, any long term resolution has to have the accord from both countries. So our hope is that these initial talks would blossom into a full blown discussion and that the more sensitive topics can eventually be addressed. We think, that we can be helpful regionally by being successful in Afghanistan, by commencing and helping Pakistan to overcome the scourge of terrorist activity within their borders and by doing what we can to help build trust and confidence between Pakistan and India that there are the problems that needs to be addressed and to reduce the tensions and the suspicions that exists for long time between the two countries. It is easy to say, it is not easy to do, but at some point, you have to get to the starting point and we are hopeful that these discussions are there.

Question: Last question on terrorism, before I go to other issues. Lashkar-e-Taiba is a major threat to India as it has been responsible for a large number of terrorist attacks inside India. Do you think, it is growing beyond the region and how serious threat it poses to the United States?

Answer: Lashkar-e-Taiba is a threat to all of us. It is a terrorist organization, originally focused on India, but has developed capacities and demonstrated capacities to operate in other areas in Afghanistan and shows signs of being a big threat. It is an example of everything that I have been talking about, something that has to be addressed. And part and parcel of my visit to Pakistan was to reemphasize that terrorism in any form has to be rejected.

Question: When we met here last time in November after Prime Ministers State Visit you discussed about how President Obama had taken personal interest in David Coleman Headley case – in giving access to Indian authorities, to have question them. Can you give an update now as Indian authorities are here have they been able to question them or access has been given?

Answer: Yes access (to Headley) has been given. This is an ongoing process and I don’t have any detail information that will be helpful except to say that it is in the hands of right professional from both countries. We have fulfilled our commitment. We are very happy that in this world of terrorist activities that our two countries can work together to make sure that we exchange information rapidly we exchange intelligence that we have, when we capture people that are mutual interest we try to arrange for those people to be interviewed by all interested sides in the interest of solving the problems of these networks provide.

Question: Is the access is going to be one time affair or they get multiple chance to question?

Answer: I don’t know but the spirit of cooperation and respect for each other position is alive and well and we have taken the first step we just have to wait and see whether there is any other request beyond this one.

Question: What does this case symbolizes as far as the cooperation counterterrorism measure or investigations between the two countries are concerned?

Answer: Well, if I were terrorists, it would tell me that looks like India and the United states are working very closely together and there is going to make my job a lot more difficult to be successful and that’s a good thing. What we need is a network of countries that can operate in the same way with speed with precision with openness because there is not one country that is going to be defeat terrorism; it is going to be many countries working together.

Question: The Obama Administration has described India as an emerging global power and already a power in Asia. But, with power also comes responsibilities. Do you see India fulfilling this responsibility or at least moving in that direction?

Answer: We do.

Question: How?

Answer: I would say that the best proof of that is to observe the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President. Prime Minister Singh enjoys not only the personal friendship of the President of the United States, but also the profound respect and President Obama enjoys discussion with him on whole host of issues and finds his advice to be very wise and very thoughtful and really is a very strong relationship that is then replicated in the other areas within our two governments as result of the way our two leaders interact with one another. So, I think the relationship is strong and I think your observation that with power comes responsibility is absolutely correct. I think President Obama thinks that Prime Minister Singh is and India is well up to the task.

Question: Now six month has passed since President Obama announced his Afghan Strategy. Where are we in Afghanistan now? Are we on track?

Answer: I think we are on track. There are lot of things happening simultaneously. As we speak President Karzai’s peace jirga is being formed that will last several week then we will have Kabul conference. We have security operation that are cohesively going on with economic development in better governance and rule and law and areas of the country where there has been nothing to show for several year. We have a recommitted and dedicated international security force. It’s clear that the Cabinet of President Karzai is diverse and varied and effective and doing more than we have done in my seven years of observation. And we had very successful meeting here in Washington, which I think, motivated and encouraged everyone. So I think that it’s moving in the right direction. But there are lots of moving parts to it and they are moving simultaneously and that includes our efforts in Pakistan also to make it more difficult for terrorists and insurgents that operate in Afghanistan.

Question: Last question. You had a meeting with the External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna, yesterday. How was it and how did it went?

Answer: I am very appreciative that he would take time to come by. We had a very good meeting on a number of subjects on most of the questions and subjects you have been asking about. We talked about we talked Strategic dialogue, we talked about the terrorist issues, my trip to Pakistan, the role of India in Afghanistan. But it was very good discussion and very appreciative he came bye.

Question: Headley would have been one?

Answer: Sure

Question: Are you personally satisfied with India’s role in Afghanistan? Right now only in developmental area do you think India needs to expand its role — training army / police?

Answer: I think that the current economic development effort is really appropriate and more than enough. I think that if we can get the economic piece going to show the Afghans that there is possibility of better life under this type of government under President Karzai’s government then I think rest of the things will be much easier and I think, the role that India played in that context is very important.

Question: Do you have plans to visit to India in future?

Answer: I do. I had the plan to go to India during the week that the Under Secretary Burns was there before preparing for the Strategic Dialogue and then I talked to my counterpart, the National Security Advisor Shankar Menon and I suggested to postpone for couple weeks just to get the Strategic Dialogue done so that I would not be there at the same time as Ambassador Burn I can focus one thing at a time. So I hope to be back there very very near future.