Noting that Indo-US ties are in a "transition mode", Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today said there is a "conceptual problem" that has to be overcome as he emphasized the need to move away from the post-World War II political order.
Mr Jaishankar said there are some real issues between India and the US and both the countries will have to be "innovative and bolder" about looking at possibilities.
Describing the first 50 years of bilateral ties as that of "limited convergence", the Foreign Secretary said both the countries are in "transition mode". "We are moving into a phase of substantial shared interest but it is happening in a step by step manner," he said, addressing a seminar at the Vivekananda International Foundation.
Contending that he cannot overstate the symbolic significance of President Barack Obama's visit to participate in the Republic Day celebrations, Mr Jaishankar cautioned against
the dangers ahead.
Both the countries need to be careful in terms of progressing the ties and positioning it, he added.
The top diplomat said because it is alive in the people's mind, it is expressed in terms of deference to some powers, constraints on some and hostility to others, and "sometimes companionship to ideologies which may not be palatable to average American or that matter Indian citizens".
Talking about bilateral business ties, he said at times there are business demands that are "unrealistic" and do not really take into account the abilities of the partner.
"We saw some of that expressed in the Special 301 Report in Section 332 hearing we had last year. I think these are today's real issues," he said.
Mr Jaishankar said on the bilateral business front, both the countries have entered into a "new era" and the way forward is to move together on commonalities and to work on differences.
Talking about bilateral opportunities, he said the Indo-Pacific region is an area where both countries can easily express commonalities and act on them.
He said defence cooperation was broadly moving in right direction. He admitted that India needs more economic muscle.
"As a diplomatic posture point... I think if the American trumpet was more certain in this region, it would be helpful," he said.
Talking about the issues in the west of India, he said developments taking place in the Af-Pak region is certainly of interest to India.
He also spoke about the US and Iran ties and said there is no doubt that the strained relationship has impacted India very negatively.
"Moving closer home, I think we still have some gaps on how the US and India perceive the centrality of the military and its implications on democratic politics," he said, with taking the name of Pakistan.
He also flagged the responses to political extremism in Bangladesh and said that "perhaps, our pages could come a little closer".
On the civil nuclear agreement with the US, he said India was determined to carry forward the breakthroughs made during President Obama's visit.
On the climate change issue, the Foreign Secretary said, "The big negotiation for this year will be Paris (climate talks). If we wish India to change the narrative from a negative narrative of emission capping to a more positive narrative on a cleaner and efficient energy, I think nuclear (energy) has a very important contribution to make."
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