Town Hall with Students in Mumbai

Mrs. Obama: Hello, everyone. Namaste. It is a pleasure and an honor to be here in India. Sit down as many as you can. Rest. It's warm. We are delighted to be here and to have the opportunity to spend time with so many outstanding young people from St. Xavier's College and so many other schools in Mumbai. This is my first trip to India, but it is not my first contact with the wonderful culture and people of India. Look, I grew up in Chicago, which is a city with one of the largest Indian-American communities in our country. And of course, last year, as you know, we were proud to host Prime Minister Singh and Ms.

Kaur for our first state visit and dinner. It was a beautiful afternoon under a tent on the South Lawn of the White House, and we also got to listen to some pretty good Bhangra. I danced there too. (laughs) So I've been looking forward to this trip for a long time. The time we spent with the young people during our trip is very special for both me and the President. When I was your age, I never dreamed of traveling to countries like this and meeting young people like all of you. In fact, there were many things I had never imagined for myself as a child, including having the honor of being the First Lady of my county.

My family didn't have much money. My parents never went to university. I grew up in a small apartment in a working-class neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. My parents worked hard to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads. But even though my parents couldn't give us material things, they gave us something much more valuable: they gave me and my brother solid values. We were taught to treat others with dignity and respect. They taught us to seek excellence in everything we did. They taught us to be humble and to be grateful for everything we had.

We were taught to put as much effort as possible into our education and to be proud of our work. They taught us that our circumstances did not define us and that if we believed in ourselves, if we made the most of every opportunity, we could build our own destiny and achieve anything we set our minds to. And I try every day to take those lessons to heart. And the fact that you are all here today tells me that we all share the same values, that we all learn the same lessons. You are here today because, like my husband and I, you believe in your dreams and work hard every day to fulfill them.

More importantly, you are here because you have committed to something bigger than yourselves. You are here not only because of your academic and extracurricular activities and achievements, but because of what you have done to give back to your schools and communities. Your willingness to serve is critical to everything that awaits you once you complete your education. Because the truth is that very soon the responsibility of building our future will fall on all of you. Soon we will be waiting for your generation to make discoveries and build the industries that will shape our world for decades to come.

We will be waiting for you to protect our planet. We hope you will help our most vulnerable citizens. We hope that you will heal the divisions that too often keep us apart. And I believe that you and your peers around the world are more than up to the c

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enge, because I have seen it firsthand here in India. Just yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit an organization called Make A Difference. It is an incredible program designed and run by young adults who recruit other young people, outstanding college

students

like themselves, to mentor and teach children who, as the founder said, have not had the same opportunities in life as many of the mentors. .

These young volunteers understand and believe in something very simple: that all children, regardless of their circumstances, deserve the same opportunity to educate themselves and build a productive and successful life. And I know that many of you here today are doing equally important work in your communities and schools, from hosting camps for children in need to teaching them computer skills to finding new ways to conserve energy. And let me tell you, this work is amazing and it is vitally important. And that is why, as First Lady, I have done everything I can to engage young people not only in the United States but around the world, letting them know that we believe in them, but more importantly, that we need them.

We need you. We need you to help us solve the great c

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enges of our time. And that is why, when my husband travels abroad, he does not only meet with heads of state in parliaments and palaces. He always meets young people like all of you. That's why he has been working to expand educational exchanges and partnerships between the United States, India, and countries around the world. Right now, more Indian

students

like you come to study in the United States than from any other country. And I'm proud to see that so many American students are doing the same thing here in India, building the kinds of friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime.

Our hope is to provide more young Indians and Americans with these types of opportunities to continue connecting and sharing ideas and experiences. And lastly, my husband is also working to encourage young entrepreneurs around the world to start businesses, improve the health of our communities, and empower our young women and girls because it is never too late or too early to start changing this world for the better. That's why I want to end today by congratulating you all, congratulating you for everything you do. We are so proud of you. I want to encourage you to keep your dreams, to keep dreaming big, gigantic dreams, not only for yourselves, but for your communities and for our world.

And finally, I want to urge you today to ask my husband some tough questions, okay? (laughs) Be tough. He loves doing events like this. This brightens his days. But you have to keep him alert, okay? So if you promise me that, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to my husband, the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause) The President: Thank you all. Thank you so much. Thank you. (applause) Thank you very much. Everyone, please take a seat. Take a sit. Namaste. Audience: Namaste. The President: It is a great pleasure to be here.

Now, I have to say, first of all, I don't like to talk after Michelle. (laughs) Because she is very good. Also because she makes fun of me. You'll notice how she said for all of you to ask tough questions. If you want to ask easy questions, that's fine. (laughs) But on behalf of Michelle and myself I want to thank St. Xavier University. I want to thank Chancellor DeSouza. I want to thank the director, I want to do it well, Mascarenhas. (laughs) But it's a little softer than that, when you say it. I want to thank Vice Principal Amonka and all of you for being such gracious hosts.

And I know it's hot here today. That you are so patient with me, I really appreciate it. I also want to thank the city of Mumbai and the people of India for giving us such an extraordinary welcome. In a few minutes I will answer some questions. I come here not only to speak, but also to listen. I want to have a dialogue with you. And this is one of the wonderful things I have the opportunity to do as President of the United States. When I travel, we always try to organize a public meeting where we can interact with the next generation, because I want to hear from you.

I want to know what your dreams are, what your fears are, what your plans are for your country. But if I may, I also want to say a few words about why I am so hopeful about the partnership between our two countries and why I wanted to spend some of my time here in India speaking directly to young people like you. Now, as Michelle said, we have both been looking forward to this visit to India for quite some time. We have extraordinary respect for the rich and diverse civilization that has thrived here for thousands of years.

We have drawn strength from India's struggle for independence in the 20th century, which helped inspire America's own civil rights movement. We have marveled at India's growing economy and vibrant democracy. And we have personally enjoyed a wonderful friendship with Prime Minister Singh and Ms. Kaur over the past two years. But of course, I'm not here just to visit. I am here because I believe that the India-U.S. partnership has unlimited potential to improve the lives of both Americans and Indians, just as it has the potential to be an anchor of security, prosperity and progress for Asia and the world. .

The relationship between the United States and India will be indispensable in shaping the 21st century. And the reason is simple: as two great powers and the two largest democracies in the world, the United States and India share common interests and values: values ​​of self-determination and equality; values ​​of tolerance and belief in the dignity of each human being. Already on this trip, I have seen firsthand those shared interests and values. We share a commitment to see that the future belongs to hope and not fear. And I had the honor of staying at the Taj Hotel, site of the November 26, 2011 attacks, and yesterday, in meetings with some of the survivors, I saw firsthand the resilience of the Indian people in overcoming the tragedy, at the same time that I reaffirmed our close cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms.

We also share struggles for justice and equality. I was honored to visit Mani Bhavan, where Gandhi helped move India and the world through the strength and dignity of his leadership. We share the commitment to ensure that this post-globalization era generates greater opportunities for all our people. And that's why yesterday, at a summit of business leaders and entrepreneurs, we discussed the potential for greater economic cooperation between our two countries, cooperation that could create jobs and opportunities through greater trade and investment, unlocking people's potential. in both countries. And although we are countries that look to the future with optimism, Americans and Indians draw strength from tradition and faith.

This morning, Michelle and I enjoyed the opportunity to join young people here in Mumbai to celebrate Diwali, a holiday that is celebrated not only here in India but also in the United States, where millions of Indian-Americans have enriched our country. By the way, I have to point out that for those of you who had a chance to see Michelle dance, she was moving. (laughter) And it was just an extraordinary gift for these young people to perform and share this wonderful tradition with us. Tomorrow in New Delhi I will have the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Singh and many other leaders, and will have the privilege of addressing their parliament.

And there I will discuss in greater detail our efforts to broaden and deepen our cooperation and make some specific announcements on important issues such as counterterrorism and regional security, on clean energy and climate change, and on advancing economic growth and development and democracy. Worldwide. balloon. Just as the sites I have seen and the people I have met here in Mumbai speak of our common humanity, the common thread that runs through the different issues on which our countries cooperate is my determination to take the partnership between our two countries to a higher level. brand new. Because the United States not only believes, as some say, that India is a rising power;

We believe that India has already risen. India is taking its rightful place in Asia and on the world stage. And we see India's rise as good for America and good for the world. But India's future will not be determined simply by powerful CEOs and political leaders, just as I know that the ties between our people are not limited to the contacts between our corporations and our governments. And that is why I wanted to speak to all of you today, because the future of India will be determined by you and young people like you across the country.

You are the future leaders. You are the future innovators and the future educators. You are the future entrepreneurs and the future elected officials. In this country of more than a billion people, more than half of all Indians are under 30 years old. This is an extraordinary statistic and one that speaks to a great sense of possibility, because in a democracy like India (or the United States) every child holds within them the promise of greatness. And every child should have the opportunity to achieve that greatness. Most of you are probably in your late 20s. Just think about how the world has changed in those 20 years.

India's economy has been growing at a dizzying pace. Living standards have improved for hundreds of millions of people. Its democracy has withstood assassinations and terrorism. And meanwhile, around the world, the Cold War is a distant memory and a new order has emerged, reflected in the 20 members of the G20 meeting in Seoul next week, as countries like India take a role most important on the world stage. So now the future of this country is in your hands. And before answering yourquestions, I want you to consider three questions I have for you: questions about what the next 20 years will bring.

First, what do you want India to be like in 20 years? No one else can answer this question except you. It is your destiny to write. One of the great blessings of living in a democracy is that democracy can always be improved. As our Founding Fathers in the United States wrote, a more perfect union can always be forged. But if you look at the last 20 years of India, it is difficult not to see the future with optimism. You have the opportunity to lift several hundred million more people out of poverty and further grow this enormous middle class that can drive growth in this country and beyond.

You have the opportunity to take on greater responsibilities on the world stage while also playing a leadership role in this hugely important part of the world. And together with the United States, they can also seize the opportunities our times offer: the clean energy technologies that can power our lives and save our planet; the possibility of reaching new frontiers in outer space; research and development that can lead to new industries and higher standards of living; the perspective of promoting the cause of peace and pluralism in our own countries, but also beyond our borders. Which brings me to a second question.

Twenty years from now, what kind of partnership do you want to have with the United States? Just before I came to talk to all of you today, I visited two exhibits just in another courtyard here that underscore the kind of progress we can make together. The first focused on agriculture and food security, and I was able to see innovations in technology and research that are transforming Indian agriculture. A farmer showed me how he can receive crop information on his cell phone. Another showed me how properly sized and weighted tools for women are helping her and other women farmers increase their productivity.

Many of these innovations are the result of public and private collaborations between the United States and India, the same collaboration that helped produce the first Green Revolution in the 1960s. And tomorrow I will discuss with Prime Minister Singh how we can advance cooperation in the 21st century, not only to benefit India, not only to benefit the United States, but to benefit the world. India can become a model for countries around the world striving to achieve food security. The second exhibition I visited focused on the ways in which innovation is empowering Indian citizens to ensure that democracy delivers results for them.

Then I heard directly from citizens of a village hundreds of kilometers away, through e-panchayat. I saw new technologies and approaches that allow citizens to obtain information or fight corruption, monitor elections, find out if their elected official is really going to work, and hold the government accountable. And while these innovations are unique to India, their lessons can be applied around the world. That is why, earlier this year at the UN, I called for a new focus on open societies that support open government and highlighted its potential to strengthen the foundations of freedoms in our own countries, while we live according to the ideals that can illuminate the world.

And that's what India is starting to do with some of this innovation. We must remember that in some places the future of democracy is still very much in doubt. Just to give you an example, there are elections going on right now in Burma that, according to all the reports we're seeing, will be anything but free and fair. And for too long the people of Burma have been denied the right to determine their own destiny. So, even if we do not impose any system of government on other countries, we, especially the young, must always defend those human rights that are universal and the right of people everywhere to make their own decisions about how to shape their future. , which will lead me to my final question, and then you guys can start sending me questions.

How do each of you want to make the world a better place? Keep in mind that this is your world to build, your century to shape. And you have a powerful example from those who came before you. Just as America had the words and deeds of our Founding Fathers to help chart a course toward freedom, justice and opportunity, India has this incredible history to draw on, millennia of civilization, the examples of leaders like Gandhi and Nehru. While at Mani Bhavan, I remembered that Martin Luther King made his own pilgrimage to that place more than 50 years ago.

We actually saw the book he had signed. After returning home, King said that he was struck by how Gandhi embodied in his life certain universal principles that are inherent in the moral structure of the universe, and these principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation. You have that power within you. You too must embody those principles. Because even in this time of great progress, there are great imperfections, the injustice of oppression, the crippling punishment of poverty, the scourge of violent extremism and war. King and Gandhi made it possible for us all to be here today: me as president, you as a citizen of a country that has made remarkable progress.

Now you have the opportunity and the responsibility to make this plant a better place as well. And in doing so, you will have the friendship and collaboration of the United States, because we are interested in promoting those same universal principles that are as inescapable as the law of gravitation. The lives they lead will determine whether that opportunity extends to more people in the world, so that a child longing for a better life in rural India, or a family who has fled violence in Africa, or a dissident sitting in a Burmese prison, or a community longing for peace in war-torn Afghanistan, if they can achieve their dreams.

And sometimes the challenges can be incredibly difficult, and in the face of darkness we can become discouraged. But we can always take advantage of the light of those who came before us. I hope you keep that light burning within you, because together America and India can shape a century in which our own citizens and the people of the world can reclaim hope for a better life. So thank you very much for your patience. And now you can take Michelle's advice and ask me some tough questions. Thank you so much. (Applause) I think we have people in the audience with microphones, and when they come up, if they could introduce themselves, they would love to know who they are.

And we'll start with that young lady over there. Audience Member: Hello, good morning, sir. Hello, my name is Anna and I am from St. Davis College. My question to you is: what is your opinion on jihad or jihadist? Whatever your opinion, what do you think of them? The President: Well, the phrase jihad has many meanings within Islam and is subject to many different interpretations. But I will say that, first of all, Islam is one of the great religions of the world. And more than a billion people who practice Islam, the overwhelming majority, see their obligations to their religion as reaffirming peace, justice, equity and tolerance.

I think we all recognize that this great religion in the hands of a few extremists has been distorted to justify violence towards innocent people that is never justified. So I think one of the challenges we face is how to isolate those who have these distorted notions of religious warfare and affirm those who see beliefs of all kinds, whether you are Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jew. or any other religion, or that you don't practice a religion, that we can all treat each other with mutual respect and dignity, and that some of the universal principles that Gandhi referred to, those are what we are living by, as we live in a nation or nations that have very diverse religious beliefs.

And that is a great challenge. It's a major challenge here in India, but it's obviously a challenge around the world. And young people like you can have a big impact by affirming that you can be a stronger observer of your faith without belittling anyone or imposing violence on another person. I think a lot of these ideas are formed very early. And how they respond to each other will probably be as important as any speech a president makes to encourage the kinds of religious tolerance that I think are so necessary in a world that is getting smaller and smaller, where more and more people of Different backgrounds, different races, different ethnicities interact, work and learn from each other.

And in those circumstances, I think we all have to fundamentally reject the notion that violence is a way to mediate our differences. Alright. Yes, it may not answer all questions. I'll call this young man right here. Right there, yes. Audience Member: Good morning, sir. My name is Jehan. I'm from H.R. College. So my question is more about spirituality and moral values. We see today in today's world a more materialistic framework of thought when it comes to generations, generations in the making. So what do you think is a possible methodology that governments, rather yours or any other government in the world, can adopt to basically incorporate the fundamental human values, the moral values ​​of altruism and brotherhood, above the framework of materialistic thinking with which people work? for today?

The President: It's a great question and I'm glad you asked it. India is making tremendous progress in part because, like the United States, it has incredible talent and entrepreneurship. And I think we should not underestimate how liberating economic growth can be for a country. In the United States, I used to work with many churches when I was still a community organizer, before I went to law school. And one of the common phrases among pastors was: it is difficult to preach on an empty stomach. It's hard to preach on an empty stomach. If people have serious and immediate material needs (housing, food, clothing), then that is your focus.

And self-sustaining economic growth and development can liberate people, enable them... they form the basis for people to obtain an education and broaden their horizons. And that's all for the best. So I don't want anyone here to look down on a healthy materialism because in a country like India there are still many people trapped in poverty. And we should work to try to lift people out of poverty, and companies and businesses have a very important role in making that happen. Now, that being said, if all you're thinking about is material wealth, then I think that shows a poverty of ambition.

When I was visiting Gandhi's room here in Mumbai, it was very revealing that the only objects in the room were a mat, a spinning wheel, some sandals and some papers. And this is a man who changed history like probably no one else in the 20th century in terms of the number of lives he affected. And he had nothing but an indomitable spirit. So everyone has a role to play. And those of you who are planning to start a business, I think it is wonderful that you are doing so and you should pursue it with all your focus and energy.

Those of you, however, who are more inclined toward teaching or public service, should also be encouraged by the fact that you are playing an equally important role. And whatever occupation you choose, giving back to the community and making sure that you are coming back to help people, lifting up people who may have been left behind, is a solemn obligation. And by the way, it's really good for you. It's good for your spirit. It's good for your own moral development. Knowing that you have given back and contributed something will make you a happier person. The last point I would like to make is that I think another thing that India and the United States share is that there is a healthy skepticism about public officials, particularly electoral politics.

In the United States, people generally have a fairly low regard for politicians, sometimes for good reason, but part of it is simply because the view is that somehow the government can't do anything right. And here in India, one of the big impediments to development is the fact that in some cases the private sector is moving much faster than the public sector. And I would just suggest that I hope some of you decide to go ahead and get involved in public service, which can be frustrating. Sometimes it can be slow: you don't see progress as quickly as you would like.

But India will need them not only as entrepreneurs but also as leaders to help reduce bureaucracy and make the government more responsive and deliver services more efficiently. That will be equally important in the years to come. Because otherwise there will be an imbalance where some are doing very well but broad-based economic growth is not moving as fast as it could. Excellent question. I'm going to say boy-girl-boy-girl, or girl-boy-girl-boy, just to make sure it's fair. We'll see. This young lady over there... yes. Audience Member: Hello. In fact,I wanted to ask you: you mention Mahatma Gandhi a lot in your speeches.

So I was wondering how exactly to implement his principles and values ​​into his daily life, and how he expects people in the United States to live by those values. Thank you. The President: Well, that's a great question. Let me say, first of all, that he, like Dr. King, like Abraham Lincoln, are people that I read and study constantly, and I find myself woefully far from his example all the time. So I often feel frustrated by how far I am from following his lead. But I do think that, at best, what I'm trying to do is apply principles that fundamentally boil down to something shared across all the world's religions, which is seeing yourself in other people; understand the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of position, rank, wealth, and absolutely value, appreciate and respect that individual; and then hopefully trying to take that principle of treating others as you would like to be treated and finding ways in which that can be applied in communities, cities, states, and ultimately in a country and in the world.

As I said, I often find myself falling short of that ideal. But I tend to judge any particular policy based on whether it promotes that spirit; that is helping people realize their potential; that it is about ensuring that all children receive an education, so that I don't just worry about my children; I am thinking, first and foremost, of the United States of America, because that is my responsibility as President, but I also recognize that we are in an interrelationship with other countries in the world and I cannot ignore an abuse of human rights in another country.

I cannot ignore the difficulties that I may be suffering, that someone of another nationality may suffer. I think that more than anything is what I carry with me on a daily basis. But it's not always evident that he's making progress on that front. However, one of the other things that I take away from all the great men and women, like Gandhi, is that on this journey you are going to experience setbacks and you have to be persistent and stubborn, and you just have to keep going. he. And you'll never roll the rock to the top of the hill, but you might be able to roll it part of the way.

This gentleman in the blue shirt. Do we have a microphone? Oh here we go. Thank you. Audience Member: Good afternoon, Mr. President. The President: Good afternoon. Audience Member: It's an honor to question you. My question would be: when you were elected president, one of the words you used a lot was "change." After their midterm election, it appears the American people have called for change. The change that you will make, how exactly will it affect the youth of India, the people of my generation? The President: That is an interesting question. Audience Member: Thank you. The President: The United States has probably gone through the two most difficult years economically since the 1930s.

I mean, this was a deep financial crisis and an economic shock, and it spread to most of the world. India withstood it better than many countries. But most of the work I did with Prime Minister Singh in the first two years at the G20 focused on ensuring that the global financial system did not collapse. And although we have now stabilized the economy, unemployment in the United States is very high now compared to what it has typically been over the past few decades. And that's why people are frustrated. And although we are making progress, we are not doing so fast enough.

And one of the wonderful things about democracy is that when people are unhappy, they have the right, obligation and duty to express their discontent, sometimes to the great chagrin of the incumbents. But that's a good thing. That's a healthy thing. And my obligation is to make sure that I stick to the principles, beliefs and ideas that will move America forward, because I deeply believe that we have to invest in education, that that will be the main driver of growth in the future; that we have to invest in solid infrastructure; that we have to make sure we take advantage of opportunities like clean energy.

But it also requires you to make some mid-course corrections and adjustments. And how they play out in the coming months will be a matter of me being in talks with the Republican Party, which will now control the House of Representatives. And there will be areas where we disagree and, hopefully, there will be others where we agree. Now, you asked specifically how I think it will affect policy towards India. In fact, I think the United States has a tremendous amount of affection for India, in part because there are so many Indian-Americans and because of the shared values ​​we have.

Therefore, there is a strong bipartisan belief that India will be a critical partner of the United States in the 21st century. That was true when George Bush was president. That was true when Bill Clinton was president. This was true under Democratic and Republican control of Congress. So I don't think that fundamental belief is going to be significantly altered. I think one of the challenges we'll face in the United States is at a time when we're still recovering from this crisis: How do we respond to some of the challenges of globalization? Because the fact of the matter is that for most of my life (I'll be 50 next year), for most of my life, the United States was such a dominant economic power, we were such a big market, our industry , our technology, our manufacturing were so important that we always interacted economically with the rest of the world on our terms.

And now, because of the incredible rise of India, China, Brazil and other countries, the United States is still the largest economic market and the largest, but there is real competition out there. And that's potentially healthy. Ago... Michelle was saying earlier that I like tough questions because it keeps me on my toes. Well, this will keep America on its toes. And I am sure that we can compete because we have the most open and dynamic company culture; we have some of the best universities in the world; incredible research and technology. But that means we're going to have to compete.

And I think there is going to be a tug of war within the United States between those who see globalization as a threat and want to close the gap, and those who accept that we live in an open, integrated world that has challenges and opportunities and that we have to manage. those challenges and manage those opportunities, but we should not be afraid of them. And what that means, for example, on trade issues, part of the reason I'm traveling through Asia this week is that I believe the United States will grow and prosper if we trade with Asia.

It is the fastest growing region in the world. We want access to your markets. We believe we have good products to sell; You think you have good products to sell us. This can be a win-win situation. So I want to make sure that we are here because this will create jobs in the United States and it can create jobs in India. But that means we have to negotiate this changing relationship. Back in the 1960s or '70s, the truth is that the American economy could be open even if the economies of our trading partners were not.

So if India was protecting certain sectors of its economy, it didn't really have that big of an effect on us. We didn't necessarily need reciprocity because our economy was much larger. Well, now things have changed. So it's not unfair for the United States to say, look, if our economy is open to everyone, the countries that trade with us have to change their practices to open their markets to us. There must be reciprocity in our business relationship. And if we can have those kinds of conversations, fruitful, constructive conversations about how to produce win-win situations, then I think everything will be fine.

If the American people feel that commerce is just a one-way street, where everyone sells in the huge American market but we can never sell what we make anywhere else, then people in America will start to think, well, This is a bad deal for us. And that could end up leading to a more protectionist instinct in both parties, not only among Democrats, but also among Republicans. So that's what we have to protect ourselves against. Very well, it's a young lady's turn. This young woman with glasses... yes. Audience Member: We extend a very warm welcome to India, sir.

The President: Thank you very much. Audience Member: I'm from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. We were the privileged university to welcome Mr. Otis Moss this January. Sir, my question is why is Pakistan such an important ally for the United States, if the United States has never called it a terrorist state? The President: Well... no, no, that's a good question. And I must admit that I expected it. (laughs) Pakistan is a huge country. It is a strategically important country not only for the United States but for the world. It is a country whose people have enormous potential, but it is also, at this moment, a country that has within it some of the extremist elements that we discussed in the first question.

This is not unique to Pakistan, but it obviously exists in Pakistan. The Pakistani government is well aware of this. And what we've tried to do in recent years, certainly - I'll just talk about my foreign policy - has been to aggressively engage with the Pakistani government to communicate that we want nothing more than a stable, prosperous, peaceful peace. Pakistan, and that we will work with the Pakistani government to eradicate this extremism that we consider a cancer within the country that can potentially engulf it. And I will tell you that I believe the Pakistani government now understands the potential threat that exists within its own borders.

There are more Pakistanis who have been killed by terrorists inside Pakistan than probably anywhere else. Now, progress is not as rapid as we would like, partly because when you get to, for example, some of the Northwest Territories, it is very difficult, deep-rooted terrain. In fact, the Pakistani military has shifted some of its emphasis and concentration to those areas. But that's not what their military was originally designed to do, so they have to adapt and adjust to these new dangers and these new realities. I think there is a growing recognition - but it doesn't happen overnight - of how deep this problem is.

So our feeling has been to be honest and direct with Pakistan, to tell them that we are their friends, that this is a problem and that we will help them, but that the problem must be addressed. Now, let me make this point, because obviously the history between India and Pakistan is incredibly complex and was born out of a lot of tragedy and a lot of violence. So some of you may be surprised to hear me say this, but I am absolutely convinced that the country that has the most interest in Pakistan's success is India. I think if Pakistan is unstable, that is bad for India.

If Pakistan is stable and prosperous, that is good. Because India is on the move. And it is absolutely in their interest, at a time when they are beginning to succeed incredibly on the global economic stage, that they want to distract themselves from the security instability in their region. So my hope is that over time trust will develop between the two countries, that dialogue will begin - perhaps on less controversial issues, and then move on to more controversial issues - and that over time it will be recognized that India and Pakistan can live next to each other. in peace and that both countries can prosper.

That won't happen tomorrow. But I think that should be our ultimate goal. And, by the way, the United States will be a friend and a partner in that process, but we cannot impose it on India and Pakistan. Ultimately, India and Pakistan have to come to their own understandings in terms of how the relationship evolves. Well. I have time for one more question. It's a boy's turn. This young man here, with the striped shirt. Audience Member: Good afternoon, Mr. President. It is an absolute honor to listen to you, and I must say this: that one day I hope to be half as good a leader as you are today.

The President: Well, you are very kind. Thank you. Audience Member: Mr. President, my question relates to your policy in Afghanistan. In light of your statements that troop withdrawal would begin in 2011, there have been recent developments that would indicate that the United States has been in talks with the Taliban to form a stable government in Afghanistan as you withdraw. Now, does this point to the acceptance of the inevitability of the United States fulfilling the vision it had, with which it invaded Afghanistan in 2001? Does it signal their inability to take military control of all southern regions so we can install a stable government?

It shows that there is a lot of instability in Iraq now. Does it then point to a kind of tacit acceptance of the United States' inability to create harmony in Afghanistan? The President: First of all, I want to analyze some of the assumptions contained in the question because, generally speaking, they have a basis in reality, but I want to be very precise here. I said that starting next summeryear, July 2011, we will begin to reduce our troop levels, but we will not withdraw all of them. Keep in mind that we increased significantly because the idea was that for seven years we had been in a holding pattern;

We had had enough troops to keep Kabul intact, but the rest of the countryside was deteriorating quite significantly. There was no real strategy. And my attitude was: I don't want, in seven or eight years, to be in exactly the same situation. That is not a sustainable balance. So I said, let's put in more troops to see if we can create more space, stability and time for the Afghan security forces to develop, and then start reducing our troops as we are able to deal with the Afghan security forces. Now, in fact, it turns out that in Iraq (you mentioned Iraq as a parallel), we've been relatively successful in doing that.

The government is taking too long to form, and that is a source of frustration for us and, I am sure, for the Iraqi people. That said, if you think about it, it's been seven months since the election, and violence levels are actually lower in Iraq than at any time since the war began, at a time when we went backwards. our forces significantly. Therefore, it shows that it is possible to train effective local security forces so that they can provide their own security. And hopefully politics will resolve differences, rather than violence. Now I think Afghanistan is actually more complicated, more difficult, probably because it is a much poorer country.

It does not have such a strong tradition of central government. The civil service is very underdeveloped. So I think the rate at which we are shrinking will be determined in part by military issues, but it will also be determined by politics. And that is, is it possible that a considerable portion of the Pashtun population in Afghanistan, who may be oscillating between the Taliban or a central government, feel that their ethnicity, their culture, their numerical position in the country is adequately represented, and is it possible? Can they do so in the context of a broader constitutional Afghan government?

And I think it's a conversation worth having. So, what we have said to President Karzai, because he initiated this, is that if former Taliban members or current Taliban members say that they are willing to disassociate themselves from Al Qaeda, to renounce violence as a means to achieve their political goals and are willing to respect the Afghan Constitution so that, for example, women are treated with all the rights that men have, then we absolutely support the idea of ​​a political resolution of some of these differences. Now, there will be some elements affiliated with the Taliban who will also be affiliated with Al Qaeda or LT or these other organizations, these extremists who are irreconcilable.

They will be there. And there will need to be a military response to those who would perpetrate the kind of violence we saw here in Mumbai on a significant and ongoing basis, or the kind we saw on 9/11 in New York City. But I believe it is possible to achieve a stable Afghanistan. Will it look exactly like a democracy might design? Probably not. It will acquire an Afghan character. I think there are lessons that India has to show not only to countries like Afghanistan but also to countries in sub-Saharan Africa. I mean, some of the incredible work that I saw being done in the agricultural sector is applicable to widely dispersed rural areas in a place like Afghanistan and could - I promise you, if we can increase the yields of farmers in Afghanistan by a 20% or 25%, and they can take their crops to market, and they are eliminating middlemen and they end up seeing a better standard of living for themselves, which greatly encourages them to join a modern world.

And that is why India's investment in the development of Afghanistan is appreciated. Pakistan has to be a partner in this process. In fact, all countries in the region are going to be partners in this process. And the United States welcomes it. We don't think we can do this alone. But part of our strong belief (and this is probably a good way to end) is that, around the world, your generation is ready to solve some of the mistakes of my generation and the mistakes of my parents' generation. You will make your own mistakes, but there is incredible potential and promise for you to start pointing new directions in terms of how economies are organized, in terms of how moral precepts, values ​​and principles are applied, in how nations work together to monitor each other so that they are not, so that when there is genocide or ethnic cleansing, or there are serious violations of human rights, an international community comes together and speaks with one voice; so that economic integration is not a source of fear or anxiety, but is seen as enormous promise and potential; where we can address problems that we cannot solve on our own.

I went to an elementary school. Do they call them secondary schools here? It's a kind of high school. And Michelle and I saw this wonderful display of global warming and the concerns that these young people have...they were 14, 15 years old. And his energy and enthusiasm were contagious. And I asked them, who of you will be the scientists who will try to solve this problem? And everyone raised their hands. And I said, well, this is very important for India. And they said: no, not for India, but for the world. You see, their ambitions were not just to be great scientists for India.

Their ambition was to be a great scientist for the world, because they understood that something like climate change or clean energy is not an American or Indian problem, but a human problem. And all of us are going to have to get involved to find solutions. And as I listen to all of you, with your wonderful questions, I feel incredibly optimistic and encouraged that you will help find those solutions in the years to come. So thank you very much for your hospitality. Thank you all. (applause)