Oct. 13 – India improving ties with Pakistan is key to overtaking China and revolutionizing the 21st century, said former U.S. President Bill Clinton said during the 7th Pan-IIT conference in Chicago.

When asked by an audience member on what India had to do to become a superpower and gain more influence at the UN and G-20, Mr. Clinton was quoted as saying by DNA India: “If India did not have to raise defense spending by 20 percent a year and could work together with Pakistan, I think (India) will grow faster than China.”

He also stated that the concept that the Chinese will dominate the 21st century was not necessarily correct. “It depends on India. On what you can do and if you can plough money into the development of the poor and reduce inequalities.”

Mr. Clinton brought up the issue of the India’s relationship with Pakistan saying that he had long volunteered to try and help the two countries resolve the Kashmir issue.

He stated: “I know that but if that one thing could be done by India it would revolutionize the 21st century in ways that no-one can imagine. Every time India does development work in Afghanistan, Pakistan thinks it is directed against it and vice versa, but the truth is, if the two countries could find a way to work together and do common projects there, it would stabilize Afghanistan and bring it into the 21st century.”

“In an interdependent world it is a prescription for disaster when you can’t get away from your neighbor. You have to have a non-zero sum game where both sides can win. If India and Pakistan can work together then they can even overtake China in the 21st century.”

The 7th Pan-IIT conference gathers together a varied group of leaders from industry, academia and government, including alumni of the prestigious IITs. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was one of the eminent speakers during the event that also included Caterpillar Chairman and CEO, James W. Owens and founder of Microsoft Research, Nathan Myhrvold.