•While the Indian government does not support a nuclear Iran, it has differences with the United States on how to deal with the Iranian regime. What is your position on engaging Iran diplomatically? And how would you reconcile Indian energy imports from Iran, with Washington’s attempts to sanction and isolate Tehran? 

My understanding is that the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline may never come to fruition — not because of what the U.S. thinks about it but because, as many Western energy companies have already learned, Iran is a fickle commercial partner.  India has voted to sanction Iran at the IAEA, has implemented U.N. Security Council resolutions tightening controls on exports to Iran, and has otherwise been a responsible actor on this issue.  At the same time, the United States and our European friends have pursued a diplomatic track on Iran that, combined with international sanctions, may help convince the Iranians that they have more to lose than to gain from developing nuclear weapons.  I understand India’s need for energy supplies — which is why it is important that we complete the civilian nuclear deal, cooperate more fully in sea lane security to protect the energy routes linking Middle Eastern energy supplies to Asia, and succeed in Afghanistan, which will help India access the energy markets of Central Asia.  

•What is your position on U.S. military and developmental aid to Pakistan?  

The United States and India share an interest in the success of civilian rule in Pakistan.  We both have a compelling interest in helping Pakistan control and govern its entire territory and defeat its internal threats.  I support a sizable increase in civilian assistance to Pakistan, to promote governance and development especially in the tribal regions.  I also support focusing our military assistance on training and equipping Pakistani security forces to conduct counterinsurgency operations.  Pakistan’s true enemy is its internal jihadists, not India, and as president I would work to convince its civilian leaders and the army of this fact.  I believe that Senator Obama’s open and vocal threats to attack Pakistan, at the same time as he has promised to hold unconditional summits with dictators like Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, demonstrate poor judgment.  Our goal must be to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to deal with our common enemies and eliminate terrorist sanctuaries.