>>Кстати, США будто бы объявили Пакистан своим "ненатовским" союзником, как Израиль или Ю.Корею. "Рособоронэспорт" обязан, думаю, выдать администрации США почетную грамоту за это мудрое решение.
Да - статус союзника вне НАТО - как Израиль, Япония, Австралия.
Аннотация - в ответ на недовольство Индии тов. Пауэлл высказался в том духе, что они, мол, ничего такого не имели в виду...
09:22 23Mar2004 RTRS-UPDATE 1-Ally status for Pakistan won't hurt India - U.S.
(Adds Indian Foreign Ministry comments)
By Y.P. Rajesh
NEW DELHI, March 23 (Reuters) - Naming Pakistan a major non-NATO ally is aimed at boosting the war against terror, the United States said on Tuesday in remarks aimed at trying to calm Indian anger.
India, which has fought three wars with Pakistan in the past half century, does not have the special non-NATO ally status.
New Delhi issued a strongly worded statement on Saturday warning Washington that its latest move had "significant implications for India-U.S. relations".
Ambassador David Mulford tried to address India's concerns.
"In referring to the Pakistan decision, Secretary (of State Colin) Powell has indicated that this decision will facilitate cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in the war against terrorism," Mulford told a business conference.
"This is also an objective that India shares," he added.
"In sum, the United States will continue to build strong bilateral relationships with India and Pakistan. Each of these relationships stands on its own merits," Mulford said.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said Powell had called Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on Sunday to discuss the issue.
"Secretary Powell...said that their intention had not been to spring a surprise on India," Sarna told reporters.
Sarna had said on Saturday that it was "disappointing" Powell had not shared Washington's plans with New Delhi while he was in the Indian capital before going to Islamabad where he made the announcement about Pakistan's new status.
Some Indian analysts said the surprise announcement had embarrassed New Delhi as it came in the run-up to national elections next month and gave a handle to opposition parties to attack the ruling Hindu nationalists, who have favoured strong ties with the United States.
The U.S. decision to elevate Pakistan to major non-NATO ally status puts it in the same league as countries such as Israel, Japan and Australia and makes it easier for Islamabad to buy U.S. weapons and receive U.S. military training.
The decision was seen as a gesture to recognise Pakistan's support in the crackdown against al Qaeda and Taliban forces that fled Afghanistan.
New Delhi and Washington, once on opposite sides of the Cold War, have forged strong ties based on growing business links and India's early support for the U.S. war on terror launched after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
In January the two countries announced a new strategic relationship that includes talks on missile defence, cooperation on civilian nuclear energy, civilian space programmes and trade in high technology goods.
((Editing by Sanjeev Miglani; Reuters Messaging: yp.rajesh.reuters.com@reuters.net; +91-11-2301-2024))
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Tuesday, 23 March 2004 09:22:54
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