Gandhi Speech Mildly Critical of U.S. Policies

Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi told a joint meeting of Congress today that he has “deep reservations about the militarization of outer space” and said outside interference and intervention in Afghanistan jeopardize stability in South Asia.

His speech contained mild and usually indirect criticism of the United States in several areas. On the issue of President Reagan’s space-based defense initiative, he appeared to embrace the position of the Soviet Union.

“We are concerned about any new dimension to the arms race,” he said. “This only makes the ultimate objective more difficult to achieve. Hence our deep reservation about militarization of outer space.”

Analysis Different

Discussing Afghanistan, Gandhi indicated that he favors U.S. objectives in that country, but his analysis of the nature of the conflict differed sharply from the Reagan Administration’s.

Consistent with his previous position, he declined to criticize the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, saying only that India is “opposed to both foreign presences and pressures.”

“The one is advanced as a justification of the other,” he said. This apparently referred to both the Soviet presence in Afghanistan and the U.S. policy of providing covert assistance to Pakistani-based Afghan rebels.

“We stand for a political settlement in Afghanistan that ensures sovereignty, integrity, independence and nonaligned status, and enables the refugees to return to their homes in safety and honor.”

Last week, Gandhi defended the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, saying Russian forces had been “invited” there by the Afghan government.

In another elliptical expression of opposition to U.S. policies, he said India is “directly affected” by the inflow of “increasingly sophisticated arms into our neighborhood”--a reference to American arms sales, including F-16 fighters, to neighboring Pakistan.

Gandhi’s most direct criticism of the United States centered on its aid policies.

Leading Role

He said the United States had once played a leading role in developing a consensus in support of international economic cooperation through multilateral action.

“Recent years have seen a sad erosion in this commitment,” he said. “Concessional assistance is drying up at a time when it is needed most. The livelihood of millions in developing countries is in jeopardy.”

Under the Reagan Administration, the United States has cut back its contributions to international lending agencies and instead has given greater emphasis to bilateral assistance.

Gandhi, wearing a Nehru jacket, received enthusiastic applause as he entered the House chamber for his speech.