Rajiv Gandhi asked US for help? BJP MP cites declassified letter from ex-US President

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey has targeted Congress accusing it of "asking for help" from the United States for India-Pakistan truce in 1987. He made his claims on the basis of a declassified letter written by former US President Ronald Reagan in response to ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi."It is not easy to be Gandhi. This letter is in reply to a letter written by US President Ronald Reagan to the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. When it was decided under the Shimla Agreement of 1972 that any dispute between India and Pakistan would be negotiated only between the two countries and there would be no mediator, why did the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ask for help from US President Reagan in negotiating with Pakistan?" Dubey said.The letter, however, does not indicate any formal intervention of the States in India-Pakistan ceasefire in 1987, but it does offer "some background" on procedures in effect between Eastern and Western Europe to "alleviate future tensions"."To help prevent similar unfortunate misunderstandings in the future, we have provided some background on procedures in effect between Eastern and Western Europe. We are offering both your government and that of Pakistan additional information that may help alleviate future tensions," it said.In fact, the letter clearly says: "Our purpose is not to be intrusive but to stress ways to improve relations and increase regional stability."However, the letter states that Rajiv Gandhi had proposed to involve American drug liaison agents in India-Pakistan bilateral consultations on narcotics control. "I (Ronald Reagan) was particularly interested in the proposal in your letter of January 7 that American drug liaison agents be associated with your bilateral narcotics consultations. I know combatting the evil of narcotics is as high a priority with you as with me, and I assure you we will be happy to assist in whatever ways you and the Government of Pakistan find helpful," it said.Dubey's claims come in response to the persistent attack by Congress after US President Donald Trump took credit for the truce reached between India and Pakistan after the two nations launched military operations against each other. The central government has, however, categorically said that the truce talks were completely bilateral in nature and denied any third party intervention.