GUWAHATI, March 6 ? US Ambassador to India Robert D Blackwill today said that for facilitating a condition for foreign investment in the North East region of India a political solution to the region?s insurgency problem is a must. Blackwill, who is on a hectic tour of the NE region, said that though the region has immense potential for economic development, particularly in the agriculture, handicrafts and tourism sectors, impediments like insurgency, remote location and lack of infrastructure, are standing on the way of its attaining prosperity. The factor of insurgency-related violence is particularly important because of its scaring away the industries and tourists. During his NE tour, he said, he had spoken a lot about this problem with the notaries including the chief ministers.
Commenting on his possible role to persuade American investors to invest in the NE region, Mr Blackwill said that though he was not in a position ?to push any American investor to make investment? in the NE region, he would explain to them the potentials of the region with the help of his first-hand experience here. The situation has also changed for investors today as a global market free from all restrictions has emerged. But, here comes the question of insurgency for the NE region, he said. When asked about the agenda of the US Embassy in India for the NE region, he said that items like development of its economy with the participation particularly of the private enterprises and control of HIV/AIDS are there. ?I myself an very much eager to help the Indian side in controlling the menace of HIV/AIDS,? he said.
Further, he said, it was also important for him to enable the US policy makers to realise the real situation the NE region. He said that the region?s majestic beauty and complexity of the situation were the two major factors that attracted him to come to the NE region. During his week-long visit to the region he visited Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya. He also visited West Bengal in the same stretch. Mr Blackwill, also an expert in foreign and defence policy and qualitative public policy analysis, who served US President George W Bush as a senior foreign policy advisor during the former?s presidential campaign, the governors and chief minister of each the States, barring Sikkim, during his tour. He also visited a number of military bases and met the commanding officer of the Three Corps, Four Corps, Eastern Air Command and the 17th Mountain Division, besides journalists, academics, businessmen and representatives of the NGOs in these States.
Mr Blackwill also visited the Nathula Pass in Sikkim and the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. He said that the NE region has absolutely a unique opportunity to serve humanity by protecting its wildlife. ?If you can protect them it will be an immense service to mankind. People from world over will come to see then. They are so wonderful,? he aid. When asked why the US Government has not banned the insurgent groups operating in the NE region, he said that the US Government took the decision basing on the list supplied by the Indian Government. He also said in reply to another question that the US Government does not distinguish between the terrorist groups according to their sponsors. The US Government treats terrorism against India, including cross-border terrorism, as heinous as other terrorism and these must end, he said emphatically.