Aryavartha
04-05-2007, 12:07
Well, not exactly in those words...but words to that effect.
Actual letter
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/04pmletter.pdf
Excertps
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/04ndeal.htm
The strong-worded letter from Capitol Hill came from senior law makers like Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, ranking Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Howard Berman, Gary Ackerman, who is the Chair of the House Middle East and South Asia subcommittee, and others.
"Regarding Iran, we are deeply concerned by India's increasing co-operation with that country, including the exchange of visits between high-level officials, enhanced military ties, and negotiations of agreements to establish closer economic relations," they said in the letter going on to list the kind of interactions New Delhi has had with Tehran.
"In March, the commander of the Iranian navy, Rear Admiral Sajjad Koucheki-Badelani, visited India at the invitation of Admiral Sureesh Mehta, the chief of the staff of the Indian Navy, to discuss the strengthening of military relations.
"A joint defense working group reportedly has been established and will meet later this year in Tehran to pursue broader co-operation in defense, including training Iranian military personnel," the senior law makers pointed out in their letter.
"Such co-operation raises renewed questions about the possible diversion of sensitive technology to Iran,:rolleyes: for which Indian entities have been sanctioned in recent years, including US-origin technology provided to India in the context of civilian nuclear and space co-operation," they said.
"We are also concerned that broadened economic relations between India and Iran are being pursued. Among the most prominent developments is the agreement reached earlier this year for the construction of a major natural gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India that will provide the government of Iran with billions of dollars of revenue," the lawmakers said.
"As strong proponents of closer ties between the United States and India, we are deeply concerned that the developments outlined in this letter have a significant potential to negatively affect relationship between the US and India in general and consideration by Congress of the 123 Agreement in particular," they said.
"Mr Prime Minister, we urge you to provide assurances that India will cease illicit procurement activities in the US, sever military cooperation with Iran and terminate India's participation in the development of Iran's energy sector. By taking these important steps, you can ensure that the positive evolution of our bilateral relationship continues," the lawmakers said.
Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had expressed puzzlement as to the origin of the stories on the so-called India-Iran military engagement and argued that what
New Delhi did with Teheran was no different from what other countries did.
"Nothing that India does with Iran is in any way contravention of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Much of what we do is normal between states and done with Iran by several other states," he had said at a press interaction at the Embassy of India on Tuesday.
What makes this the mother of all irony is that the US has no qualms in being in bed with the actual sponsors of real salafi terrorism - KSA and Pak.
Just replace India with US and Iran with Pakistan and the "concerns expressed" are of several orders more in magnitude and range.
US admin keeps saying "Do as we say, not as we do" - and then they are amazed when people point out the hypocrisy.
Actual letter
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/04pmletter.pdf
Excertps
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/04ndeal.htm
The strong-worded letter from Capitol Hill came from senior law makers like Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, ranking Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Howard Berman, Gary Ackerman, who is the Chair of the House Middle East and South Asia subcommittee, and others.
"Regarding Iran, we are deeply concerned by India's increasing co-operation with that country, including the exchange of visits between high-level officials, enhanced military ties, and negotiations of agreements to establish closer economic relations," they said in the letter going on to list the kind of interactions New Delhi has had with Tehran.
"In March, the commander of the Iranian navy, Rear Admiral Sajjad Koucheki-Badelani, visited India at the invitation of Admiral Sureesh Mehta, the chief of the staff of the Indian Navy, to discuss the strengthening of military relations.
"A joint defense working group reportedly has been established and will meet later this year in Tehran to pursue broader co-operation in defense, including training Iranian military personnel," the senior law makers pointed out in their letter.
"Such co-operation raises renewed questions about the possible diversion of sensitive technology to Iran,:rolleyes: for which Indian entities have been sanctioned in recent years, including US-origin technology provided to India in the context of civilian nuclear and space co-operation," they said.
"We are also concerned that broadened economic relations between India and Iran are being pursued. Among the most prominent developments is the agreement reached earlier this year for the construction of a major natural gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India that will provide the government of Iran with billions of dollars of revenue," the lawmakers said.
"As strong proponents of closer ties between the United States and India, we are deeply concerned that the developments outlined in this letter have a significant potential to negatively affect relationship between the US and India in general and consideration by Congress of the 123 Agreement in particular," they said.
"Mr Prime Minister, we urge you to provide assurances that India will cease illicit procurement activities in the US, sever military cooperation with Iran and terminate India's participation in the development of Iran's energy sector. By taking these important steps, you can ensure that the positive evolution of our bilateral relationship continues," the lawmakers said.
Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had expressed puzzlement as to the origin of the stories on the so-called India-Iran military engagement and argued that what
New Delhi did with Teheran was no different from what other countries did.
"Nothing that India does with Iran is in any way contravention of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Much of what we do is normal between states and done with Iran by several other states," he had said at a press interaction at the Embassy of India on Tuesday.
What makes this the mother of all irony is that the US has no qualms in being in bed with the actual sponsors of real salafi terrorism - KSA and Pak.
Just replace India with US and Iran with Pakistan and the "concerns expressed" are of several orders more in magnitude and range.
US admin keeps saying "Do as we say, not as we do" - and then they are amazed when people point out the hypocrisy.