'Cooperation is a two-way street' : Shyam Saran

New Delhi, Jul 14: Two days after the Mumbai bomb blasts, the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, scheduled for next week, were in jeopardy today with New Delhi stating that it had not taken any decision yet in the matter.

''As of now no decision has been taken on that (calling off talks)...We have not said the process is off,'' Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar.

He was asked whether the talks had been called off in view of the Mumbai bomb explosions.

According to preliminary schedule, the Foreign Secretary- level talks between the two countries were to be held on July 20-21.

Mr Saran said during the question-answer session after the seminar that incidents like Tuesday's Mumbai bomb blasts should not be allowed to ''derail'' the larger vision of peace in the region. India would do whatever it had to do.

He, however, said that cooperation was a ''two-way street'' and no cooperation could be in one direction.

''We will not be deterred from that vision (of peace and progress) of the region. India will do whatever it has to do.

Cooperation is a two-way street. No cooperation can be in one direction...We will not be deterred from that vision by incidents like the Mumbai terrorist attacks,'' the Foreign Secretary said in reply to a question.

Earlier speaking on 'The India-US Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, : A year Later' the Foreign Secretary dismissed apprehensions that the agreement would put a cap on India's strategic programme. ''There will be no cap on India's strategic programme...We will not accept any limitation on our stratetgic programme.'' Describing the July 18 agreement as a ''milestone'' and a ''departure from the beaten track,'' Mr Saran said it was not conceived in a vacuum but was culmination of six steps spanning a number of governments.

He said the agreement was done in the best national interest and it would be fruitful to partner with the US--the dominant global power.

He identified the six steps as India's growing economic strength, an impeccable Non-Proliferation record, its emergence as a model of stability, modernisation and predictability, awareness of its potential as a knowledge-based economy, India's integration with the global economy and an open society and an open economy.

''There can be no argument that better relations with the US are in our national interest...The challenge to Indian diplomacy, of course, is to maximise the gains while minimising the costs and create an international environment that is supportive of our developmental goals,'' he added.

Mr Saran said the July 18 agreement marked India's determination to put behind an era of ''defensive diplomacy.'' ''If India is to become a credible candidate for permanent membership of the Security Council, then we must adjust our traditional positions. Our foreign policy must reflect our national aspirations and express our confidence as an emerging global power...July 18 is, in some ways, an effort to usher in a change in mindset,'' Mr Saran said.

The Foreign Secretary made it clear that India would not undertake any obligations going beyond the July 18 Joint Statement and the Separation Plan.

Mr Saran also disagreed with a questioner that India was alingning with the US to become a global power.

''We don't need a certificate from anybody to be global power.

If we have to become a global power, we will become on on our own,'' he asserted.

To a question on Iran he said India and Iran had historic ties and there was no question of India being opposed to Iran by voting against it at the IAEA.

He said India respected Iran's right to develop nuclear energy but within international commitments.

The visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to India from July 18 would be an opporrtunity for both countries to chart out a way for greater cooperation.

UNI