'Decades of distrust ails Indo-US ties'

Ahead of PM's US visit on July 17, experts say prejudices and attitudes continue to clog talks between the two.

Despite the achievements of recent years, Indian and American officials will have to overcome decades of distrust to help improve bilateral ties, experts say.

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With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set to visit Washington on July 17-19, the experts said that prejudices and attitudes continue to clog dialogue between the two countries.

"You still have to live down 30 years of estrangement and misunderstanding and hostility. On our side, more apathy and on India's side, more hostility," said Professor Stephen Cohen of Brookings Institution.

"There's still a deep problem in being able to listen to the other side," Cohen told the agency.

Cohen said besides the usual symbolic importance of Manmohan Singh's visit, especially if he addresses Congress, "the most significant outcome will be increased pressure on both governments to move ahead, now that strategic policy decisions have been made to enhance cooperation across a number of fields.

"The best outcome would be agreements to increase interaction among or between Indian and US policymakers at the mid-levels where there have been real obstacles to increased cooperation," Cohen said.

Cohen's views were echoed by Walter Andersen, associate director of the South Asia programme at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

"Of course, the relationship is new and the important thing is getting the two sets of bureaucracies aboard on a new way of thinking," Andersen said.

"It's always important to get that happening. That's why these formal visits are important beyond just what is said and done. It's a message to the bureaucracy."

Cohen noted the success of the business community in contrast to other sectors of cooperation.

Indian businesses had begun opening in the US. "(But) I hear a lot of complaints from American businesses in India. The Indian government is hearing this and it is being tackled."

On the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP), Cohen emphasised: "India has to make some major policy decisions in terms of its attitude on non-proliferation and dividing its civilian and military programmes. US officials have stated that as soon as India does this, it's easy to see a flow of technology."

Andersen also saw Manmohan Singh's visit as more of a symbolic trip, the first after an announcement that the US was seeking the deepening of relations.

"He's coming to put his blessings on that and to sign some concrete agreements after all the legwork has been done. It's kind of a sign of approval by India on the developing relations."