Intelligence Revamp

The Congress believes that the time has come to embark on a sensitive review of the entire network of intelligence establishments in the country. The professional expertise of the intelligence organisations needs to be upgraded substantially. The organisations have to be technologically up-to-date at all times. Co-ordination among the various agencies has to be institutionalised. Systems for the timely analysis and assessment of the intelligence gathered have to be put in place. This, the Congress will do without undue delay.

Foreign Policy

For fifty years, the Congress ensured a durable national consensus on foreign policy. This consensus has been of late destroyed. The first task must be to restore the consensus. No foreign policy can be meaningful, influential or respected if it is not supported by the vast majority of the people. Foreign policy must have strong domestic roots and must reflect domestic priorities and concerns.

Relations with all our neighbours will be improved. India remains deeply committed to the strengthening of SAARC. Efforts will be done to see tat SAFTA becomes a reality in near future. The Congress will work towards creating a non-legislative Parliament for South Asia along the lines of the European Parliament as a forum for the discussion and consideration of issues that are common to all countries in the region. It will launch a new initiative for the integrated development of the Himalayan river system. Co-operation in other areas like power, natural gas, tourism and education will be actively fostered.

There will no let up in our battle against Pakistan-supported terrorism and militancy. Pakistani aggression, both overt and covert, will be dealt with firmly. At the same time, durable and enduring confidence-building measures going beyond mere bus rides will be high on the agenda The Congress is committed to a meaningful, bilateral dialogue with Pakistan on all issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, within the framework of the Shimla Agreement of 1972. The Congress wants closer bilateral ties with Pakistan but Pakistan has to change its attitude to India in a most fundamental manner.

Historic confidence-building measures in relation to China were taken by previous Congress governments. These will be consolidated and expanded. While recognising that we have border disputes with China that need long-term negotiations in mutual good faith, the Congress will seek to build closer economic, trade, cultural, trade, educational and political ties with China.

Concrete steps have to be taken to ensure that the nuclear weapons available with India and Pakistan are never used. India cannot afford to relax her vigil since she is surrounded by nuclear weapons in her neighbourhood but at the same time we must never allow a nuclear arms race to develop in the region. Various ideas have been proposed like a no-first-use pact, a pact not to target population centres, greater sharing of information on an advance-warning basis, etc. These ideas need to be studied carefully. India, Pakistan and China have a joint responsibility for nuclear non-proliferation in this region.

The Congress reiterates its firm commitment to the Action Plan for a Nuclear Weapons-Free and Non-Violent World Order presented to the United Nations by Shri Rajiv Gandhi in 1988. The Action Plan remains the sheet anchor of its approach to global nuclear issues. The plan for the time-bound and phased elimination of nuclear weapons, with a reliable verification mechanism, will be updated and presented as a draft Treaty to the international community.

The Congress has always sought and will continue to seek close political, economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological ties with the United States. The Congress will engage the United States in a comprehensive dialogue on all issues of mutual concern and will take concrete steps to institutionalise this dialogue.

Closer economic and commercial links with the European Union and Japan will be fostered. India has had warm and friendly ties with the European countries and with Japan. These will be consolidated and steps taken to deepen the relationship. The traditionally close relationship with Russia will be continued and consolidated. Other regions like Central Asia will also receive special attention. Joint projects in the energy sector will be actively explored. India will continue its efforts to become a full member of APEC and other forums involving Asian countries.

India has watched with great interest the unfolding of the peace process in West Asia. It will play whatever role it is called upon to play in placing this process on a more solid footing. India’s traditionally close links with other countries in the Middle East and the Gulf will not only be preserved but also expanded. India will continue to work for the rapid agricultural and industrial development of Africa. In the past few year, non-Congress governments have damaged our relationship with South Africa. This will be resorted and a special effort made to expand India’s relationship with South Africa nd other countries in the region. India will take the Indian Ocean Rim initiative forward.

Although separated by considerable physical distance, India and South American countries share many common economic and political interests. Closer links with these countries will also be forged and nurtured.

India will continue to work to strengthen the United Nations as the cornerstone of collective global security and to restructure the UN to reflect the many changes taking place in the world. It will take part in and seek to influence discussions on a new global financial architecture. The best way to ensure that India’s voice will be heard in such discussions is to be on a high growth path, revive the investment momentum and continue with economic reforms and liberalisation.

India will simply not compromise on its vital strategic interests. A sincere effort will be made to evolve a broad national consensus on all aspects of nuclear policy keeping in view our strategic interests as well as global concerned. Our approach to the CTBT, the FMCT and other global regimes of nuclear non-proliferation must be integrally linked to the over-arching goal of the time-bound elimination of nuclear weapons. The BJP has wilfully destroyed the national consensus on nuclear matters. That consensus will now be meticulously rebuilt. India will reiterate at every opportunity its steadfast commitment to time-bound universal nuclear disarmament, leading to general and complete disarmament.

Action on the report of the Jain Commission

Pursuant to the submission of the report by the Jain Commission of inquiry in to the assassination of our beloved leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the Government of India has made a commitment in the Parliament that it will hold further inquiries to get to the bottom of the conspiracy to assassinate Shri Rajiv Gandhi. A multi-purpose agency has been appointed by the government to undertake this task. The Congress Party attaches the highest importance to this inquiry and would like the agency to pursue all the leads suggested by the Jain Commission of inquiry, so that the conspiracy behind the assassination is unearthed and the guilty are brought to book, whatever their position may be.