Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs

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Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs deals with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Date: 06/05/2009 Description: Official Portrait of Robert Blake - State Dept ImageAssistant Secretary Blake: "Central Asia is a region of significant importance to U.S. national interests.  Recognizing the uniqueness of each of the five Central Asian nations and their sovereignty and independence, U.S. policy supports the development of fully sovereign, stable democratic nations, integrated into the world economy and cooperating with one another, the United States, and our partners, to advance regional security and stability."

 President Obama’s an Historic Trip to India November 6-9, 2010

Assistant Secretary Blake (Nov. 15: “Raj and I were very fortunate to participate in the President’s really historic three-day visit to India, the President’s longest trip in a foreign country since taking office.  President Obama and Prime Minister Singh, I think, took substantive and significant steps to expand and strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership.  The two leaders affirmed that the U.S.-India relationship is indeed an indispensable partnership for the 21st century.

The big headline maker was, of course, the President’s endorsement in his parliament speech of a reformed United Nations that includes India as a permanent member.  The two leaders also agreed that the U.S. and Indian delegations in New York should intensify engagement as India joins the UN Security Council in January for a two-year term. 

To illustrate our global partnership on nonproliferation, the United States and India decided to take mutual steps to expand U.S.-India cooperation in civil space, defense, and other high-technology sectors.  First, the U.S. removed the remaining Indian space and defense entities from the U.S. entity list.  Second, the United States agreed to support India’s full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes – the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement – and to do so in a phased manner as India takes steps towards full adoption of the regime core requirements.  Third, we signed a memorandum of understanding that provides a general framework for cooperation in connection with India’s Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership, which India announced during the 2010 Global Nuclear Security Summit here in Washington, D.C.  We intend to give priority to discussion of best practices on the security of nuclear material and facilities, on development of international nuclear security training curricula and programs, and joint outreach on nuclear security issues to our respective nuclear industries.”  Full Text»

President Obama’s November 6-9 visit to India and U.S.-India Relations

 Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Geoffrey R. Pyatt (Nov. 5): “I think that the trick with the U.S.-India relationship is not to view it in transactional terms.  This is a relationship which is important to the United States because India’s rise is important to the United States.  At a moment when our interests are engaged in Asia as never before, there’s probably no country with whom we have greater potential to build a broad strategic partnership than India because of our common values, because of our shared interests, because of the way our societies work and what we hold in common.  So the visit will be a success, and what we need to try to get out of the visit is a recognition of the long term trajectory of strategic partnership which we seek to build between the two countries.
I think there will be a lot of accomplishments which we’ll be able to point to at the end of the visit which demonstrate how we are building this architecture of collaboration between two very complicated democratic societies, and with an India which is becoming a much much more important actor in the international system.  That is a phenomenon which is profoundly in the interest of the United States.  An India which is more powerful, more effective in the international system, is good for the U.S.” Full Text»

U.S.–Pakistan Strategic Dialogue

October 20-22, 2010

The third ministerial-level meeting  represents the shared commitment of the U.S. and Pakistan to strengthening the bilateral relationship as a broad partnership based on shared democratic values, mutual respect, trust, and interests. The Dialogue’s thirteen working groups have been meeting regularly both in Washington and in Pakistan and have mutually agreed upon action plans, delineating achievable benchmarks, which they are now working to implement. More» Media Note»

US-Bangladesh Relations

October 13, 2010

Assistant Secreatary Blake (Oct. 13): "I think relations between the United States and Bangladesh are excellent, but I wouldn’t attribute them to anything to do with me. It’s thanks to I think our common interests and to some of the very important steps that Bangladesh has taken not only to be a partner on some of the big global initiatives that the President is interested in, but also the steps that Sheikh Hasina and the government have taken to improve relations with India, and the steps that have been taken I think to improve the situation for the people of Bangladesh." Full Text»

Bangladesh’s role in Afghanistan

October 13, 2010

[U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, met recently with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni in New York on the margins of September 2010 UN General Assembly].

Assistant Secreatary Blake (Oct. 13): "I was in that meeting. It was a very warm and friendly meeting. Ambassador Holbrooke primarily wanted to brief the Foreign Minister about U.S. policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ambassador Holbrooke knows that Bangladesh already is doing quite a lot in Afghanistan, particularly with things like health and education efforts. You also had some of your NGOs who are working inside Bangladesh. So that’s something that we very much welcome, of course. So the two of them discussed in general terms how Bangladesh might do more. I think Bangladesh is taking a very hard look at what more it might be able to do, and we would welcome that. Again, Bangladesh is a leader in the OIC and in the Muslim world, and can send an important message of partnership at this very sensitive time in Afghanistan’s history.

[On the troop contribution]. That’s something for Bangladesh to decide. We’re not making any requests like that. But again, I think we just would like to see Bangladesh contribute in whatever way it thinks it can be most beneficial. The question of things like troops is of course always very sensitive and that’s something that has to be decided by the government itself in consultation with the parties and all other relevant people." Full Text»


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