Washington: US Ambassador to India Timothy
Roemer has said that Pakistan has a cancer of terrorism, a
fact increasingly being recognised by Islamabad, and asserted
that a stable partner on its border is in India`s interest.
"He (the US President) said very frankly that Pakistan
recognizes that it has a problem. He also said that Pakistan
has a cancer of terrorism. They`re recognizing it more and
trying to address it," Roemer told MSNBC in an interview.
"The more important strategic point and regional
point is that India, in order to grow its economy, at 8, 9, 10
percent, needs a more stable partner on its border," he said.
"Let`s be very clear about this. First of all, I think
the US and India share a strategic and common interest in
Afghanistan. Both countries want peace, prosperity and an
independent Afghanistan," he said in response to a question.
Roemer said President Barack Obama was in India to
express this new strategic partnership between the United
States and India, but it`s a two-way street.
"He is here fighting for jobs in America," he said.
"He (Obama) addressed this head on in the town
meeting. He said both at a business meeting, in a town
meeting, that`s the old way to look at this relationship. The
new way to look at it for America and for American jobs and
for India is to say how do we build this market of 1.5 billion
people with shared values and shared benefits and get benefits
for both societies," he said.
"More and more people here will move from poverty into
the middle class. As those people move into the middle class,
we are talking about the possibility of a hundred, 200, 300
million people who could buy American products," he said.
Roemer said the US is the most respected country in
India and the most popular country almost by a two-to-one
factor.
"He (Obama) is lighting up people`s faces everywhere.
People can`t wait to meet him. He has a very, very good
chemistry and friendship with Dr (Prime Minister Manmohan)
Singh," he said.
"The second thing I would say is the India-US
partnership is one that`s based on bipartisanship. Both
Democrats and Republicans want a strong relationship with
India. This is a non-partisan area of US strategic importance
with India. It`s a very good time, very important progress and
very exciting to be part of it," Roemer said.
PTI
