MANMOHAN, MUSHARRAF MEETING: India and Pakistan decided to settle all disputes and differences “to restore normalcy and cooperation” between the two nations during a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York on Sept. 24. The joint statement on behalf of the two said that “possible options” for a negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue “should be explored in a sincere spirit and purposeful manner.” (File Photo: AFP)

MUSHARRAF, BUSH MEETING: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, left, met his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush during a stopover on his way to Britain, in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4. President Bush told Musharraf that despite the recent pullback of Pakistani troops from tribal areas where some believe Osama bin Laden may be hiding, the troops had “been incredibly active and very brave” in rooting out Al-Qaeda terrorists. “The president has been a determined leader to bring to justice not only people like Osama bin Laden,” Bush said, “but to bring to justice those who would inflict harm and pain on his own people.” (File Photo: AFP)

PUTIN, SINGH SIGN JOINT DECLARATION: Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signing a joint declaration in New Delhi on Dec. 3. Putin smoothened ruffled feathers of “strategic partner” India by clarifying on Dec. 4 that Moscow fully backed a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council with the right of veto. “I can say that the interpretation by the press was absolutely incorrect,” Putin told reporters in New Delhi. (File Photo: AFP)

MEETING OF GROUP 4: From left, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; and German Vice Chancellor Joschka Fischer, in New York on Sept. 21. Singh attended on Sept. 21 a meeting of the group of four nations –– that includes India, Japan, Germany and Brazil –– eager to get a permanent place in the top U.N. body. (File Photo: AFP)

DONALD RUMSFELD IN INDIA: The United States is “sensitive” about New Delhi’s concerns about Washington’s decision to sell sophisticated weapons to Pakistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, left, told Indian leaders in New Delhi on Dec. 9. His talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right, focused on bilateral issues as well as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq. (File Photo: AFP)

ROCCA IN NEW DELHI: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca in New Delhi on Oct. 21, ahead of talks with Indian officials as part of the ongoing strategic dialogue between New Delhi and Washington. “Both countries are motivated to move forward,” Rocca told reporters. (File Photo: AFP)

RICE IS NEW SECRETARY OF STATE: New U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was chosen on Nov. 16 as Bush’s new secretary of state, a move that augured well for intensification of U.S.-India ties. Rice is considered as the original architect of an expanded relationship with India.

NATWAR, POWELL MEETING: External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, left, with his U.S. counterpart Colin Powell on June 10. He said India will reconsider its stand against sending troops to Iraq but made no specific commitment. (File Photo: AFP)

MANMOHAN, BLAIR MEETING: India and Britain resolved to enhance defense cooperation and work together to ensure that “global norms against terrorism are upheld by all countries,” in a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, left, with his British counterpart Tony Blair in London on Sept. 20. (File Photo: AFP)

RONEN SEN PRESENTS CREDENTIALS: President George Bush, left, with Ambassador Ronen Sen at the Oval Office in the White House on Sept. 15, when Sen presented his credentials. The president warmly welcomed Ambassador Sen, saying that the development of close relations between the U.S. and India had been a high-priority goal since the beginning of his administration. (File Photo: AFP)

Continued from Page 20

Ryan C. Crocker

Crocker new envoy, Sept. 23 –– Ryan Crocker was appointed next U.S. ambassador to Pakistan. The new envoy praised the “far-sighted statesmanship” demonstrated by leaders of India and Pakistan in their peace process.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, left, with Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster at a meeting on the first phase of U.S.-India Next Steps in Strategic Partnership, in Washington on Sept. 17. (File Photo)

‘Involve pandits in kashmir initiative,’ October –– Leading Congressman from New Jersey, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to include the Kashmiri Pandits in any future policy discussions on Kashmir.

State Department’s denial, Oct. 28 — The State Department denied it had ever called India a “rogue” nation. The department said that no decision had been reached about sale of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan.

Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)

Biggest military aid to Pakistan, Nov. 20 –– The United States Congress approved what is the biggest military aid package for Pakistan since 9/11. A total of $300 million is earmarked for Islamabad in the latest spending bill Congress approved on Nov. 20, following President Bush’s commitment to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for toeing the line on the war on terror.

India’s Consul General in New York Pramathesh Rath, left, with Congress Party Member of Parliament Anand Sharma, at a reception at the Consulate General of India in New York, on Oct 14. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, center, was also present at the event. (File Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia)

India ends contract, November: India ended its contract with the U.S. lobbying firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Field in November, the Indian embassy in Washington confirmed. Speculation were rife that New Delhi dumped Akin Gump because it had not done enough to prevent the revival of the issue of sales of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan.



Armitage’s statement, November: Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage classified India as one of the major powers in the world, while speaking to insiders at the State Department.



‘Block arms sale to pak,’ November: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, urged Bush to block the proposed arms sale to Pakistan to avoid “increased security concerns throughout South Asia, and particularly to India.”

Robert Blackwill

Blackwill resigns, November: Robert D. Blackwill told his colleagues at the White House National Security Council that he will resign, leaving the administration without one of the major players in stabilizing the country and moving toward elections.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right, with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the 10th ASEAN summit in Vientiane, on Nov. 30. (File Photo: AFP)

Powell defended, November –– The State Department defended Secretary of State Colin Powell’s account in an interview of behind-the-scene-efforts made by Washington to nudge India and Pakistan toward a dialogue for settling major differences hampering the relationship between the two neighbors.



U.N. Security Council, Nov. 30: The U.N. recommended the overhaul of its key decision-making organ, the Security Council, and hold out the possibility of granting legitimacy to some preventive military strikes.



Concern over china’s help to pak, Dec. 2 –– Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) expressed fear about China’s foreign policy, particularly its nuclear assistance to Pakistan.

(Compiled from the pages of News India-Times by Nishant Arora)