Indo-US relations With regard to terrorism: 1.India tried to impress the importance of fighting the menace of terrorism, by highlighting Pakistan's role in Jammu and Kashmir. But the United States did not show much interest in acting against terrorism till the US cities (New York and Washington) were struck in a big way on 11th September 2001. India offered full cooperation to the US in the counter terrorism campaign. However, our plea to the US that Pakistan's support to Taliban in Afghanistan, and Jehadists in Kashmir made it the "epicentre" of international terrorism fell on deaf ears.

2. The US needed Pakistan more than India to contact Al-Qaeda terrorists. So the US distinguished "good" terrorists and bad terrorists. They extended sympathy when terrorists attacked Kashmir Assembly and India's Parliament in October and December 2001 respectively.

3. Anxious to enlist allies in the war against terrorism, USA reverted to Cold War partnership with Pakistan. Once highly critical of the military regime in Pakistan run by General Pervez Musharraf, Washington now welcomed Musharraf as a full-fledged partner in the international coalition against terrorism. The Bush administration lifted the sanctions against Pakistan, pledged to provide generous assistance and gave the Musharraf government a legitimacy it had never before enjoyed. India legitimately feared that Washington would tilt toward Islamabad once more.

4. The USA was alarmed that events might go out of control. To show New Delhi that it took seriously India's accusations about Pakistan's collusion in these attacks, the administration of President George Bush placed the two Pakistan-based groups India thought responsible for the attacks on the US list of terrorist organisations. While not publicly accepting India's claim that the Pakistani government itself was involved in terrorist activities, Washington's words and actions clearly implied that Islamabad could and must, do more to crack down on terrorism.