November 05, 2001

    The US secretary of Defence called on Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes here today and discussed matters of mutual interests. Later both the leaders addressed a joint press conference.

    Following are the press statements of the two leaders and free rendering of the question answer session of the press conference:-

    Defence Secretary Rumsfeld and I had discussions from the time he arrived here. Our discussions were essentially on strategic relationships between us and how to continue to build on what we have achieved so far. Naturally, we also discussed the ongoing war against terrorism on a global scale and the kind of developments that we visualize in so far as Afghanistan is concerned.

    We also discussed some of the specifics on our mutual defence related partnership, including certain items that we need to acquire, collaborations that we could have and in other words the relationship of mutual support and collaboration.

    I am very happy with the discussions that we had, and I want to express my thanks to Secretary Rumsfeld for coming over here- his first visit as Defence Secretary to India and I look forward to a very long lasting relationship between our two nations.

    I am very pleased to be back in India and as you point out on my first visit as Secretary of Defence, I put great value on the relationship between the United States and India. Our two countries have many common values and common interests and I believe its important that we strengthen them. So I was particularly pleased to be able to visit with you. I guess that both of us are back in this job for the second time and to be able to strengthen the military to military and defence ties between our two countries which I think are so important. The Minister has described our visits and the number of topics that we covered, the only one I would add would be the humanitarian aspects of our interest in the situation in Afghanistan. Both of our countries have been active in providing humanitarian assistance and certainly with.. when we have been successful and there is a post Taliban Government of Afghanistan. I am sure that both our countries will again share that interest and providing the kind of assistance for the Afghan people that they certainly need…….. I should add that I have invited the Minister to the United States and I am hopeful that he would be able to visit us there sometime next year as per his convenience.

    Question to Rumsfeld - Some of the sanctions against Indian Companies and Indian establishments are still pending that were imposed in 1974. Is the US administration considering to lift those sanctions also along with the sanctions that you have lifted recently?

    Ans. As you pointed out sanctions that relate to the Defence Department have been lifted and other sanctions have been lifted, waived and the status of some remaining sanctions with respect to nuclear technologies as I recall and missile technologies are something that the Department of State and the Government of India undoubtedly will be discussing.

    Question to Rumsfeld – You have just come back from Pakistan. Are you concerned about the safety of nuclear facilities in Pakistan?

    Ans I think the countries that have nuclear weapons have a healthy respect for their power and the lethality of those weapons and the dangers that they pose to the world and take the appropriate steps to assure that they are managed and handled in a way it reflects the dangers that those weapons pose.

    Question to Rumsfeld – Can you rule out the possibility of Pakistan’s nuclear set up falling into the hands of terrorists and hardliners?

    Ans As I have indicated I do not personally believe that there is a risk with respect to the nuclear weapons of countries that have those weapons and I think those countries are careful and respectful of the dangers that they pose and manage their safe handling effectively.

    Question to Rumsfeld – Can you tell us what the next steps are in the military to military cooperation between the US and India. What do you foresee new steps?

    Ans Well, first Admiral Blair, the Commander of our Pacific capabilities is going to be visiting here in the next period of days and weeks and he will be followed by under secretary F………. from the department of defence who is here with me today,….. he would be leading a delegation here and they will be discussing ways that we can establish the linkages between our two countries from the standpoint of military exchanges and training and various educational opportunities and other aspects of the relationships………. The two countries will be discussing those intensively they will bring teams of experts over and they will be decided between the two countries as those visits take place.

    Question to Rumsfeld – Mr Fernandes told a German magazine… quoted this morning…as saying of our efforts in Afghanistan quote this is a waste of explosives on barren mountains the most it would do is melt the ice on the peaks earlier than usual. Will you respond to that.

    Ans You bet. What we are doing in Afghanistan is we are engaged in an exercise in self-defence. Thousands of Americans were killed. People from three or four dozen other countries were killed in New York and Washington. People of all races and all religions. It is not possible to defend at every location against every terrorist. The only way to deal with it is to take the battle to them and that is what we are doing. There is no question that the effectiveness of bombing is vastly improved as you have people on the ground in communication with the aircraft overhead and each day that we have been engaged in this since October 7^th we have been able to improve the effectiveness of it. We now have some larger number of teams of people on the ground that are assisting with re-supply and humanitarian assistance as well as targeting and the effectiveness of the bombing is improving everyday. I don’t think that there probably has ever been a bombing campaign that has been any more attentive and precise and focussed solely on the military capabilities than this one.

    Question to Rumsfeld – Another remark that Defence Minister Fernandes had made was that he had his doubts about whether the Americans would have the stick to …… .. once this phase is over to help India with its struggle against terrorism in Kashmir particularly with groups that are based in Pakistan?

    Ans I think the President has been very clear that the effort against terrorism is a global one. It involves terrorist where they are and certainly he is determined and I have no doubt in my mind that United States will be……. Let me start slightly differently, this is much bigger than Afghanistan. The President has said that repeatedly, I have said it repeatedly Afghanistan happens to be the first problem because Al-Quaida organisation is there and it needs to be stopped before it kills thousands of more people. But the President has been unambiguous on that question and there is no doubt in my mind that we will be pursuing terrorist networks wherever we find them.

Question to Rumsfeld – Did you discuss the presence of terrorist camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan with Defence Minister today? What were your talks about?

    Ans We talked about terrorism in the broader sense, again we talked about terrorism that has effected both of our countries and the concern we share, our two countries share, with respect to the importance of dealing with that problem. As you know, I have a policy of not characterising the extent to which other countries are involved in this effort, I feel it is up to them and I can say that the Government of India has been very specific and very cooperative and we certainly appreciate it.

    Question to Fernandes – There was a reference to your interview to the German publication. Is the Government of India, does it agree with the tactics being used in Afghanistan.

    Ans. I think it is the military men who decide the military tactics. So one should accept what is happening now.

    Question to Rumsfeld – There is a thinking that this battle in Afghanistan might continue for four years or atleast two years. Do you agree?

    Ans I think that the effort against terrorism will certainly be something that we will have to continue over a period of time we will have to be vigilant because in this world of ours there are people who are determined to kill other innocent people and second in this world of ours with the increasing availability of very powerful weapons and in some cases the weapons of mass destruction the risk that they are falling in terrorist hands poses a threat that’s unique and different in the history of mankind. Do I think Afghanistan will take years? No, I don’t. I think it is something that is being very aggressively addressed at the present time how long it will take one can’t guess. But certainly all of us would hope that it will take the least possible time because the people there pose a threat to innocent people all across globe.

    Mr. Rumsfeld who arrived in New Delhi last night from Islamabad left for United States today.