WASHINGTON, Sept 1: The ruling Republican Party's manifesto for President George W. Bush's second term mentions America's long-standing relationship with Pakistan but fails to list India among America's allies in Asia.
The Republican Party's desire to maintain its long-standing relationship with Pakistan comes in the section of the manifesto that deals with the US foreign policy.
The manifesto says "Republicans applaud President Bush for his leadership in dramatically refashioning America's relationship with Pakistan. The United States and Pakistan are working closely in the fight against terror. We endorse continued American support for Pakistan's security, economic and social programmes."
On Sunday, a day before the Republican National Convention began in New York, President Bush also mentioned his administration's decision to designate Pakistan a major non-NATO ally.
But then as an assurance to India, he added in the interview that the designation does mean "there will be an infusion of sophisticated weapons into Pakistan." In the manifesto, Pakistan is also mentioned while expressing Mr Bush's desire to work for promoting peace and prosperity in South Asia.
"Mindful of its longstanding relationship with Pakistan, the US will place a priority on the secure, stable development of this volatile region where adversaries now face each other with nuclear arsenals," says the document in a thinly-veiled reference to South Asia's two nuclear neighbours, India and Pakistan.
The chapter on the US strategy for fighting terrorism compares Pakistan's relations with the Bush administration with those it had with the Clinton administration.
It says: "Three years ago, Pakistan was one of the few countries in the world that recognized the Taliban regime. Al Qaeda was active and recruiting in Pakistan. Pakistan served as a transit point for Al Qaeda terrorists leaving Afghanistan on missions of murder.
The United States could not count on the support of Pakistan's military and civilian leaders "the very people we would need to help shut down Al Qaeda operations in that part of the world."
"Today, the governments of the United States and Pakistan are working closely in the fight against terror. Pakistan has helped capture Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the operational planner behind the Sept 11 terrorist attacks and other terrorists, because we are working with Pakistani leaders, Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror, and the American people are safer."
But what surprised most Indians attending the convention is that the manifesto does not include India even in the category of "long-standing American friends." The Indian ethnic media in America pointed out that this was a major retreat from Mr Bush's earlier pronouncements that as "two great democracies" India and the United States were "natural allies."
The manifesto says India is emerging as one of the great democracies of the 21st century. Soon it will be the world's most populous state. India is now redefining its identity and future strategy.
"The United States should engage India, respecting its great multicultural achievements and encouraging Indian choices for a more open world." This reference to India is far cry from the enthusiasm with which the Bush campaign approached India during his first run for the White House four years ago.
The Indian media noted that the change is partly because those responsible for that enthusiasm in 2000 are now in the White House and are not actively taking part in shaping the party's campaign for 2004.