Why did Eric Gonsalves' first offer seemed insulting to jose?
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Indian Foreign Secetary Eric Gonsalves told Secretary of State...
By JIM ANDERSON
April 17, 1981
WASHINGTON -- Indian Foreign Secetary Eric Gonsalves told Secretary of State Alexander Haig Friday of his government's objections to the growing military supply relationship between Pakistan and the United States.
After two days of 'frank and candid' meetings between Gonsalves and a series of high American officials including Haig, a U.S. official said the Indian foreign secretary 'mentioned his concern about the evolving relationship between Pakistan and the United States.'
The official said Gonsalves was told, 'Whatever we may do for Pakistan is not directed against India ... we want good relations with both Pakistan and India and we think this is possible.'
Pakistan's foreign minister, Aga Shahi, is expected in Washington Monday to discuss details of a proposed two-year $1 billion military and economic aid package to include the sales of sophisticated weapons.
The official said Gonsalves was told, 'We see our relations with Pakistan in the context of bolstering its security against Soviet adventurism. We told the Indian foreign secretary that a stronger, more self-confident Pakistan, capable of resisting Soviet pressures is essential for enhancing the deterrence of Soviet expansionism.'
Haig discused with Gonsalves, and will discuss with the Pakistani officils, his idea for a 'strategic consensus,' a grouping of similar and often mutually antagonistic nations united only by a common realization of the threat from the Soviet Union to their region.
An official who sat in on the two days of talks with Gonsalves said, 'We are sensitive to India's concerns. But in our view, a weak Pakistan would serve only the interest of the Soviet Union.'
U.S. officials also tried to persuade Gonsalves that the United States is not trying to promote an arms race in the subcontinent, despite the sharply increased military assistance to Pakistan.
The Indian government has also expressed an interest in buying some U.S. weapons, including TOW anti-tank missiles and howitzers. U.S. weapons sales to both countries include the condition that they be used only for national and regional self-defense.
Asked if the United States had expressed its concern about any further Indian nuclear weapons tests, the U.S. official said only, 'We continued our discussions on nuclear affairs.'