We seek a South Asia comprising sovereign and stable states, free of
outside interference, which can strengthen their political institutions
according to their own national genius and can develop their economies for
the betterment of their people.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has posed a new challenge to this
region, and particularly to neighboring Pakistan. We are engaged in a
continuing dialogue with the Pakistan government concerning its development
and security requirements and the economic burden imposed by Afghan
refugees who have fled to Pakistan. We are participating with other aid
consortium members in debt rescheduling and will continue to cooperate
through the UNHCR in providing refugee assistance. We remain committed to
Pakistan's territorial integrity and independence.
Developments in the broad South/Southwest Asian region have also lent a new
importance to our relations with India, the largest and strongest power in
the area. We share India's interest in a more constructive relationship.
Indian policies and perceptions at times differ from our own, and we have
established a candid dialogue with this sister democracy which seeks to
avoid the misunderstandings which have sometimes complicated our ties.
We attach major importance to strong economic assistance programs to the
countries in the area, which include a majority of the poor of the
non-Communist world. We believe that these programs will help achieve
stability in the area, an objective we share with the countries in the
region. Great progress has been achieved by these countries in increasing
food production; international cooperation in harnessing the great river
resources of South Asia would contribute further to this goal and help to
increase energy production.
We continue to give high priority to our non-proliferation goals in the
area in the context of our broad global and regional priorities. The
decision to continue supply of nuclear fuel to the Indian Tarapur reactors
was sensitive to this effort.