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Diplomatic test for Clinton in India Diplomatic test for Clinton in India
(30 minutes later)
By Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, DelhiBy Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Delhi
Hillary Clinton arriving in Mumbai
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived on a four-day visit to India, a country she knows well and where she is immensely popular.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived on a four-day visit to India, a country she knows well and where she is immensely popular.
Mrs Clinton first visited India 14 years ago
But her visit comes at a sensitive time in relations between Washington and Delhi, a time when key geopolitical issues hang in the balance.But her visit comes at a sensitive time in relations between Washington and Delhi, a time when key geopolitical issues hang in the balance.
Mrs Clinton first visited India in 1995 as US first lady, a trip that helped break the ice between two countries on opposite sides of the Cold War fence.Mrs Clinton first visited India in 1995 as US first lady, a trip that helped break the ice between two countries on opposite sides of the Cold War fence.
It also paved the way for her husband's immensely successful visit five years later.It also paved the way for her husband's immensely successful visit five years later.
She now returns as a representative of US President Barack Obama and will find that Indians are a bit apprehensive of her new leader.She now returns as a representative of US President Barack Obama and will find that Indians are a bit apprehensive of her new leader.
While former President George W Bush is credited with transforming relations with India - the cornerstone of which was a landmark civilian nuclear agreement - Mr Obama's regional focus has been entirely on Afghanistan and Pakistan.While former President George W Bush is credited with transforming relations with India - the cornerstone of which was a landmark civilian nuclear agreement - Mr Obama's regional focus has been entirely on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Cashing inCashing in
But Washington knows it cannot afford to ignore India.But Washington knows it cannot afford to ignore India.
The world has a lot riding on our co-operation Hillary ClintonThe world has a lot riding on our co-operation Hillary Clinton
In a front-page article in the Times of India newspaper on Friday, Mrs Clinton wrote that close co-operation between India and the United States was vital to tackle global security threats, nuclear proliferation and climate change.In a front-page article in the Times of India newspaper on Friday, Mrs Clinton wrote that close co-operation between India and the United States was vital to tackle global security threats, nuclear proliferation and climate change.
"I hope a new era of stronger co-operation between India and the United States will be one of the signature accomplishments of our new governments," she wrote. "The world has a lot riding on our co-operation.""I hope a new era of stronger co-operation between India and the United States will be one of the signature accomplishments of our new governments," she wrote. "The world has a lot riding on our co-operation."
Key to that close relationship is the economy.Key to that close relationship is the economy.
The US is India's largest trading partner, with investments of close to $10bn (£6bn). But India too is investing heavily in the US economy, its stake valued at some $3.7bn (£2.3bn) last year.The US is India's largest trading partner, with investments of close to $10bn (£6bn). But India too is investing heavily in the US economy, its stake valued at some $3.7bn (£2.3bn) last year.
With the civilian nuclear trade agreement in place, the US is hoping to cash in.With the civilian nuclear trade agreement in place, the US is hoping to cash in.
During her visit, Mrs Clinton is expected to announce the location of two nuclear power plants that US companies will build.During her visit, Mrs Clinton is expected to announce the location of two nuclear power plants that US companies will build.
A recent report by the Confederation of Indian Industry says that India intends to import 24 nuclear reactors in the next 10-15 years, creating "as many as 20,000 new jobs directly and indirectly in the US from nuclear trade".A recent report by the Confederation of Indian Industry says that India intends to import 24 nuclear reactors in the next 10-15 years, creating "as many as 20,000 new jobs directly and indirectly in the US from nuclear trade".
Delhi is also in the market for some 125 new fighter aircraft to replace ageing Soviet-era planes, and the US is locked in competition with France, Britain and Russia to win the multi-million dollar deal.Delhi is also in the market for some 125 new fighter aircraft to replace ageing Soviet-era planes, and the US is locked in competition with France, Britain and Russia to win the multi-million dollar deal.
Sharp differencesSharp differences
But the Obama administration also needs Delhi's co-operation on three key global issues which are among its key policy objectives - nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, and a new world trade treaty.But the Obama administration also needs Delhi's co-operation on three key global issues which are among its key policy objectives - nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, and a new world trade treaty.
Mrs Clinton will stay at the Taj hotel, targeted in the 2008 terror attacksMrs Clinton will stay at the Taj hotel, targeted in the 2008 terror attacks
India has sharp differences with Washington on all three areas.India has sharp differences with Washington on all three areas.
Along with China, it has been a key dissenter on trade and climate change talks, refusing, for instance, to agree to emission caps.Along with China, it has been a key dissenter on trade and climate change talks, refusing, for instance, to agree to emission caps.
India has also refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, describing it as discriminatory since it does not press existing nuclear powers to give up their weapons.India has also refused to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, describing it as discriminatory since it does not press existing nuclear powers to give up their weapons.
Without India on board, the Obama administration knows they will make little headway on any of these issues.Without India on board, the Obama administration knows they will make little headway on any of these issues.
And while President Obama's new Afghanistan-Pakistan policy forms the cornerstone of his regional approach, Washington is only too aware that without India's co-operation, any resolution of the situation in those two countries could come apart.And while President Obama's new Afghanistan-Pakistan policy forms the cornerstone of his regional approach, Washington is only too aware that without India's co-operation, any resolution of the situation in those two countries could come apart.
So if the US wants Pakistan to concentrate its efforts on the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban along the Afghan border, it needs to ensure that there is peace between India and Pakistan so that troops from the east can be relocated to the battle in the north-west.So if the US wants Pakistan to concentrate its efforts on the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban along the Afghan border, it needs to ensure that there is peace between India and Pakistan so that troops from the east can be relocated to the battle in the north-west.
Regional wranglingRegional wrangling
For the first time, a major US figure is visiting India without also travelling to Pakistan.For the first time, a major US figure is visiting India without also travelling to Pakistan.
Many in India strongly believe that it was gentle pressure from Washington that persuaded Delhi to restart peace talks with Islamabad, on hold since last year's Mumbai attacks.Many in India strongly believe that it was gentle pressure from Washington that persuaded Delhi to restart peace talks with Islamabad, on hold since last year's Mumbai attacks.
And Pakistan has recently indicated that it may be willing to broker peace between the US and the Taliban, but in exchange wants India to reduce its engagement in Afghanistan.And Pakistan has recently indicated that it may be willing to broker peace between the US and the Taliban, but in exchange wants India to reduce its engagement in Afghanistan.
After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, India quickly re-established diplomatic ties and now operates four missions in Afghanistan, two of them located in Kandahar and Jalalabad, uncomfortably close to the Pakistan border.After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, India quickly re-established diplomatic ties and now operates four missions in Afghanistan, two of them located in Kandahar and Jalalabad, uncomfortably close to the Pakistan border.
Islamabad accuses Delhi of using these missions to foment trouble in Baluchistan and the North West Frontier Province, a charge that India denies.Islamabad accuses Delhi of using these missions to foment trouble in Baluchistan and the North West Frontier Province, a charge that India denies.
But there is some suggestion that the US is trying to press India to at least scale down its diplomatic presence, if not close down some of its posts.But there is some suggestion that the US is trying to press India to at least scale down its diplomatic presence, if not close down some of its posts.
Despite her popularity, Mrs Clinton will have her diplomatic skills tested to the fullest in India.Despite her popularity, Mrs Clinton will have her diplomatic skills tested to the fullest in India.