One cannot over-emphasise the significance of the interview given by India’s former National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, to a TV channel, in which he categorically stated that he was convinced, after discussions with government officials and scientists, that the Indo-US ‘deal’ would not affect India’s strategic programme. Read together with his earlier qualified support to the deal, that if he were to get credible guarantees from the government “about the integrity of what we had left behind three and a half years ago” he would advise the government to go ahead with the deal, his recent statement gets added meaning.

Mishra has always been particular in clarifying that he was not a member of, and that his views did not necessarily reflect those of any political party. In other words, his views were offered as independent assessment. However, it appears that his considered opinions on the Indo-US deal have been dismissed by the BJP as ‘only’ those of an individual. That is, of course, undeniable, but what needs to be kept in mind is that he is not just any individual off the street. Not only is he recognised as one of our most perspicacious security analysts coming as he does from an impeccable political and diplomatic background, but he has dealt with India’s national security for five eventful years. His views, therefore, would keep in mind not only India’s external security interests, but her economic security and domestic interests as well. Such views cannot be dismissed and indeed, they should not.

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