Religious freedom to 2+2 dialogue, here’s what Nikki Haley said during India visit

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 28

US Permanent Representative to the Unite Nations Nikki R Haley on Thursday delivered a special address at a public event hosted by the Observer Research Foundation.

Born to Indian immigrant parents with roots in Punjab, Haley is the former governor of South Carolina. The Republican leader in her speech hailed the Indo-American community, reminded India of the importance of freedom of religion, put out a stern warning to Pakistan on terrorism and criticised China’s predatory economic policies.

She also clarified that the inaugural India-US 2+2 dialogue on July 6 between the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries was postponed on Wednesday for scheduling issues.

Here are the key quotes from Ambassador Haley’s speech themed ‘Advancing India-US partnership’: 

On religious freedom 

Yesterday, I visited Humayan’s Tomb which is absolutely stunning and a real treasure for the country. This morning, I had a fascinating and inspiring interfaith tour of Old Delhi.  It reminded me that, of all the things America and India share, freedom of religion is one of the most important.  Nations as diverse as ours can only be held together by true tolerance and respect.  

On Indo-Americans 

My parents met at a hill station near Dharamsala.  Fifty years ago, they came to America with eight dollars in their pockets.  They came to a southern town in America. It wasn’t always easy for them. They stood out in rural South Carolina in the early 1970s. My father wore a turban – he still does. My mother wore a sari. I was born in the small town of Bamberg. We were the only Indian family in town, which put us in a kind of no-man’s land. No one quite knew what to make of us. We were different. Over the time, that small community came to accept – and then embrace – us. Our differences didn’t disappear. But as our neighbours got to know us, the focus was no longer on differences but on our similarities. But my story is not unusual.  Everywhere I go I meet Indian-Americans who are amazing people. They have given so much of themselves to their new country. And they have brought so much of the customs and teachings of India with them. And that has served them well. Indian-Americans are the most highly educated and the most philanthropic of any minority group in the United States.  

On India’s nuclear non-proliferation record 

Meanwhile, India is a state with advanced nuclear technologies widely accepted around the world. Why? Because India is a democracy and continues to be a responsible leader. In the last couple of years, India has joined three major nonproliferation groupings. The United States also fully supports India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India continues to demonstrate it is a responsible steward of its nuclear technology.  

On India-US 2+2 dialogue 

Our relationship will mark a new milestone when the US and India conduct the first ever 2+2 dialogue. The delay in that meeting was completely unrelated to India. The time and location are being re-scheduled now. It will happen soon.

When America’s and India’s defence and foreign ministers meet they will discuss ways the US can continue to support India as a provider of regional security, particularly in and around the Indian Ocean. These discussions will undoubtedly involve issues like joint exercises and military hardware and technology.  But the strategic partnership we hope to build is bigger and more durable than that.

On counter-terrorism cooperation 

We share an urgent interest in eliminating the terrorist networks that threaten us, and to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists and their sponsors. Both our nations lost citizens in the horrific Mumbai attack a decade ago. As fellow democracies, the United States and India must be global leaders in the fight against terrorism.

We have greatly expanded our counterterrorism cooperation in the past decade. But we can and we must do more. We must use all of the elements of our national power – economic, diplomatic and military – to protect ourselves. This includes working together at the United Nations to designate terrorist leaders and networks. Neither of our nations can afford to turn a blind eye to the regimes that produce, harbor, and support terrorists.

Message to Pakistan 

The United States is approaching our relationship with Pakistan differently than in the past.

In many instances, Pakistan has been a partner with us, and we value and respect that.  

But we cannot tolerate its government, or any other government, giving safe haven to terrorists. We won’t tolerate it.  We are communicating this message to Pakistan more strongly than in the past and we hope to see changes.

On China and its ‘predatory’ economic policies 

China is an important country, and the United States, like India, seeks a productive relationship with China. But, unlike India, China does not share our commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. This makes China’s expansion of loans and investments in countries in the region a matter of concern for many of us. China’s failure to respect the rights of its people and the rule of law will limit its own ability to grow and prosper over the long term. And unlike with India, this will limit the United States’ relationship with China.

On her personal journey 

On my last visit to India, when I was governor of South Carolina, I had the honour of visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It was a very special experience for me. My mother was born in the shadow of the Golden Temple. She gave up family, friends, and a life of privilege to come to America.

When I was a little girl, I could never have dreamed that I would be a governor and an ambassador. But my mom did. And so did my dad. They gave me the blessings of my Indian heritage and my life in America. I’ve worked to make the most of these gifts – and to pass them along to others.