Q: Tell us first about your meeting with President Bush. 

A: I was sitting with National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice in the Roosevelt room when he looked in and said hello. We exchanged greetings and I gave him letter from the Prime Minister. He said why sit here, lets go into the Oval office.

Q: That wasnt part of the script, was it? What exactly did you both talk about? 

A: Obviously I cannot reveal privileged conversation. He walked me out to the verandah. We talked some business there. And then he said lets go in (to the Oval Office) and sit down.

Q: What did you think of him?

A: He is a marvelous person. I think great many things that are being said about President Bush are completely untrue. It was a very rewarding meeting that set the tone for the rest of the events of the day. There was so many things going in Washington that day - the vote going on in the Senate on the Tax Cut Bill, the China situation...but he still found time to talk to us.

Q: So you see a smooth transition from the Clinton administration to the Bush regime in terms of Indo-US relations?

A: I dont just see a smooth transition... it is much more. There is clear determination on part of President Bush and his administration to go faster and very much further forward in terms of Indo-US relations.

Q: Now how much is China a factor in Indo-US relations and did you discuss that. Everyone is talking about the timing of your visit.

A: The timing is purely fortuitous. As for China, it has been my constant endeavour that we in India must not allow Indo-US ties to be a hyphenated relationship. It should not be a reflection or reaction to other relationships. It should stand on its own.

Q: What exactly is happening with Indo-US ties? How and why is it changing so rapidly?

A: If you reflect on the reality of today, with the end of Cold War there absolutely has to be a re-evaluation of all the fixed points of assessment. The challenges to US security in today and tomorrows world are no longer coming from the Cold War. If it is no longer the Cold War, then what are we talking about? The U.S has an institutionalised way of looking into these things and they are coming to the sameconclusion as we have...

Q: Which you are saying is fundamentalist extremismand terrorism...

A: There is now a very interesting coincidence of Indias national interest and the security of the United States. Therefore, the essence of statecraft, of management of relationship, is to find that confluence of national interests. The Prime Minister used the phrase natural allies. How to convert is this reality of interests into an alliance ofinterests is the task before us. 

Q: But there are many who feel Indo-U.S ties are stillbedeviled by differences

A: Of course, there are and there will be differences. But the challenge is not to let the relations be defined by the differences that exist. 

Q: So where do you see India's place in the 21stcentury scheme of things? 

A: We are a vast, populous, vibrant, and exuberant democracy that should play a pre-eminent part in the affairs of the world. India is India. We should present it without hesitation but without exaggeration. Not with arrogance but not with timidity either.

Q: What about sanctions? What did your coming here as Defence Minister accomplish? 

A: (Smiles) We are supposed be under sanctions. There isnt supposed to be military-to-military contacts. Yet the Defence Minister of India was received by a guard of honour at the Pentagon and by the Defense Secretary of the United States.

Q: But there was a lot of apprehension about your meeting with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld because of his reputation as cold warrior.

A: Secretary Rumsfeld was not what he was. In fact the guard of honour was not a conferment of any personal distinction on me. It was an honour for India. 

Q: SO you are saying there is a much better understanding and appreciation of India in the U.S now. What has brought this about? 

A: We have had a lot of thoughtful discussions. For a long time, India has not been seen in its true dimensions. How many people know that Indonesia is only 65 miles from the southernmost Indian island? Or that but for POK, Tajkistan is just 27 miles from India. That we had a border with Iran in 1947? Or that the legal tender of Kuwait till 1938 was the rupee? So when we talk about Indonesia or Central Asia or the Gulf, it is because of our interest and our sphere of influence. 

Q: And you think the Americans are beginning to accept this?

A: These are not lessons in geopolitics. These arefacts. 

Q: SO is there an understanding of the Kashmir issue in the same context?

A: I believe there is much greater comprehension of what Kashmir is all about. It is not a territorial dispute. It is a conflict between denominational nationalism and civic nationalism. Many American leaders now understand it. Many people ask me what have we achieved in our 8-10 rounds of talks with the United States. I think we have made many of the sethings understood. 

Q: To come back to the President, was he clued in all these issues? What did he talk about?

A: It is a completely mistaken notion that he does not have a handle on things. He went straight into the core of the issue. He started by saying he has have not been briefed on these issues, but he had a goodgrasp of the situation.

Q: Why did he start with?

A: Why India and the U.S must work together. He also spoke about the immense talent of Indians and the immense wealth he said we have given them. 

Q: So do you see a qualitative difference between the Clinton administration and the Bush Presidency? 

A: I am astonished that the President of the United States chose to come in an arm-to-arm fashion to talk to India as if there wasnt another worry in the world on such a tense day with the China incident and the Senate vote. 

Q: There has been so much celebration about the previous presidency that it would seem inconceivable it could be bettered.

A: I have no intention of comparing the two. But I have no doubt in my mind that what happened yesterday (his meeting with Bush and three cabinet officials) is the start of a new era.