Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher to Speak at JHU SAIS

Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of State of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, will speak at the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) on Thursday, 03/9 at 12:30 p.m.

Boucher will speak about "President Bush's Visit to India and Pakistan." Just one week after his 02/21 swearing in as head of the department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Boucher is currently accompanying President Bush to India and Pakistan. He previously was the longest-serving assistant secretary for Public Affairs in the State Department's history.

This presidential visit underscores two new U.S. policy approaches that this administration has pursued with India and Pakistan: dealing separately with each country rather than clubbing them together, and seeking a long-term economic and security relationship with each. A key concern in India will be whether sufficient progress is made in these meetings to convince the U.S. Congress to make India an exception to nonproliferation legislation. This would allow U.S. assistance to India's civilian nuclear program. The consequences of an American effort to strengthen India could redefine the balance of power in Asia, if not internationally. Fighting the "war on terror" in Pakistan will almost certainly be a large part of the agenda in Islamabad.

The event, which is open to the public, will be held in Kenney Auditorium located on the first floor of the school's Nitze Building, 1740 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. Members of the public should RSVP to [email protected] or 202.663.5722.

Members of the media who plan to cover the event should respond to Felisa Neuringer Klubes at the SAIS Public Affairs Office at 202.663.5626 or [email protected].