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Bush, Vajpayee, Pledge Improved Relations
WASHINGTON, Nov 9. (News Agencies) - President George W. Bush Friday shrugged off criticism of the U.S.-led war on terror from visiting Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as both leaders vowed to fight the global scourge together and improve relations.
"My administration is committed to developing a fundamentally different relationship with India - one based upon trust; one based upon mutual values," said Bush. "It's an important relationship for our country."
The Indian leader assured Bush of his "complete support" in the war on terrorism and declared their first face-to-face meeting since the president took office in January as "an extremely rewarding experience."
Vajpayee's meeting with Bush comes a day before the U.S. president is due to meet President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Washington's role in South Asian geopolitics has become even more finely balanced since terror attacks on New York and the Pentagon on September 11th that killed around 5,000 people.
U.S. policymakers must reconcile a long-term goal of developing ties with India with their need for Pakistan's help in the battle to bring Osama bin Laden to justice.
The two leaders' friendly exchange came after Vajpayee told the Washington Post that the U.S. military campaign against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers for refusing to hand over bin Laden "cannot be described as fully satisfactory" and even appears to be "slackening" at times.
Prodded by a reporter, the president waved off the report, saying his talks with Vajpayee were among "candid discussions" with partners in the global coalition behind the United States.
"I was glad to be able to make the case as to why we're going to be successful," said Bush, who said he would travel to India "as soon as possible" in response to a renewed invitation from Vajpayee. He did not specify a date.
Both leaders held up the possibility of improving economic ties between the United States and India.
"Economic and commercial relations are expanding. We've agreed to broaden the bilateral economic dialogue to include new areas of cooperation," Vajpayee insisted at a joint appearance after a closed-door meeting.
"I look forward to working to foster ties that will help both our economies. Trade with India is going to be an important part of our growth in the future," said Bush, who paid tribute to India's "fantastic ability to grow."
The visiting leader said he expected dialogue on defense policy to promote technical cooperation in security issues and that they had agreed to launch a joint initiative to combat cyber-terrorism.
The U.S. president also brushed aside sharp criticism from Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, who told the
New York Times in an interview published Friday that his government was "angrily frustrated" by Bush's Middle East policy.
Bush's reply came as he declared that the coalition against terrorism "has never been stronger. I'll make the case tomorrow at the United Nations that the time of sympathy is over."
"We appreciate the condolences. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for coalition members to respond in their own way, and the prime minister of India understands that, and he is responding," he said firmly.
"And the Saudi Arabian government understands that, and they are responding as well," he said.
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