US may lift some more sanctions against India

US may lift some more sanctions against India
AGENCIES

WASHINGTON, FEB 23: US President Bill Clinton may lift some of thepost-Pokharan nuclear tests sanctions against India before his visit to NewDelhi next month, the Washington Times reported today.

A senior Clinton administration official told the paper that the Presidentmight use his authority to waive some more of the punitive measures beforehis visit to India.

He also said India had expressed its desire to purchase weapons from the USmainly laser-guided bombs, radar controlled gun batteries, submarineperiscopes and other equipment.

Analysts felt that lifting of more sanctions would enable India to purchaseweapons from US.

Regarding the Presidential visit, he said the main focus during thePresident's Indian tour may not be Indo-Pakistan tensions or nuclear issues,but bilateral economic relations in the mutual interest.

The President, said the official, hoped to highlight economic progress inSouth Asia.

The visit to India comes as America's Indian immigrants have formed apowerful economic and political group. Indian-Americans have the highestmedian income of all immigrant groups in the United States and they arebecoming active politically.

Clinton recently said that one reason for a visit to South Asia was thatmany Americans now hail from that region.

The daily says Clinton will arrive in India on March 19. The next day, hewill fly to Dhaka for the first visit by a United State President toBangladesh. Clinton is to visit some rural development projects of powerfulnon-governmental organisations such as the Grameen Bank and Bangladesh RuralAdvancement Committee, which have used novel techniques to inspire poorpeasants to become entrepreneurs.

President Clinton returns to New Delhi later on March 20 to begin a formalstate visit.