Hagel was supporter of Indo-US civilian nuke deal.
Bureau Report
WASHINGTON, DC: The US India Security Council (USISC) has strongly endorsed President Obama’s nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel to be the next Secretary of Defense.
“President Obama is committed to working with leaders in South Asia to bring stability and peace to the region. That commitment is highlighted by his nomination of Senator Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon,” said US India Security Council President Ramesh Kapur, in a statement. “Not only does Senator Hagel know the value of India’s strategic partnership with the United States, but he has a record of working to strengthen it.”
The USISC advocates for U.S. policies that increase military and commercial ties between the world’s two largest democracies. Additionally, USISC organizes monthly forums which bring together leading members of the American and Indian security communities to share ideas and find opportunities for collaboration. By fortifying this alliance, USISC aims to further peace, prosperity and security in Asia and beyond.
Senator Hagel shares these goals. He was an early supporter of the landmark civilian nuclear agreement between the United States and India that finally became law on October 8, 2008. During his trip to India in 2006, Senator Hagel told reporters in New Delhi the bilateral civilian nuclear deal “represents one of the most thoughtful new approaches to foreign policy in maybe 25 years.”
“Senator Hagel has visited India and South Asia many times. He is familiar with the complex reality on the ground and the significant role India – among the largest providers of reconstruction aid to Afghanistan – continues to play in bringing about regional security and stability,” said Kapur, a Massachusetts entrepreneur and founding National Chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Indo-American Leadership Council.
USISC National Secretary Shekhar Tiwari, a businessman from Virginia and founder of the Republican Indian Committee (RIC-PAC), is also enthusiastic about Senator Hagel’s nomination.
“The United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act would not be the law today without President George W. Bush’s leadership, but Senator Hagel also deserves much of the credit,” said Tiwari, an original member of the Indian American Republican Council, a precursor to RIC-PAC. “Senator Hagel’s passionate advocacy kept the deal alive when global politics threatened to unravel it.”
“During a tense Congressional review of U.S. military aid to Pakistan in exchange for cooperation in the war on terror, Senator Hagel made clear that America’s relationship with India should be independent from America’s relationship with Pakistan. He insisted that U.S. diplomacy with each of these countries should never come at the expense of U.S. diplomacy with the other,” Tiwari explained.
The nuclear agreement was a positive milestone in U.S.-India relations. It helped reduce tensions in South Asia and is proving to be economically beneficial for both the U.S. and India. Still, American security interests in Asia continue to grow.
“As the world’s largest democracy and a growing military and economic force, India can help protect American security interests more effectively than any other South Asian nation. India’s history, size, location and opposition to terrorism make it a crucial ally in the region,” USISC President Ramesh Kapur said.
In fact, President Obama called the U.S.-India relationship “one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.”
“Senator Chuck Hagel is a friend of India,” Kapur added. “The US India Security Council is pleased Senator Hagel has been nominated to serve as United States secretary of defense. We encourage members of the Senate to quickly confirm him.”