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US views India as strategic partner, also supports Pak
Washington, June 06: The United States regards India as a strategic partner and the two countries are drawing closer not only bilaterally but also regionally and globally.
Washington, June 06: The United States regards India as a strategic partner and the two countries are drawing closer not only bilaterally but also regionally and globally.
"Indo-US relations are advancing in unprecedented ways... India and the US are drawing closer not only bilaterally but also regionally and globally," Assistant Secretary of Defence Peter W Rodman said.
Despite differences over Iraq "the two countries are agreed that they must work together to promote stability in Asia and fight terrorism," he told a delegation of visiting Indian parliamentarians and businessmen at a luncheon meeting here yesterday.
Although for many years US relations with India were regarded as one-half of the India-Pakistan-US relationship, Rodman insisted "that is certainly not the case now" and pointed out increased interaction in military fields as an indicator in this direction.
"There have been significant milestones in the interaction of the Indian and the US militaries," Rodman said.
He, however, added that the US also valued Pakistan's support in America's global war against terrorism, which is a menace to both India and Pakistan.
With regards to the Indo-US military co-operation, he said: "India has purchased a dozen fire-finding radars and the operators are being trained. Spare parts are going to helicopters. During the Afghan war, the Indian Navy escorted coalition ships through the Malacca Straits and there have been ambitious joint exercises".
Bureau Report
Despite differences over Iraq "the two countries are agreed that they must work together to promote stability in Asia and fight terrorism," he told a delegation of visiting Indian parliamentarians and businessmen at a luncheon meeting here yesterday.
Although for many years US relations with India were regarded as one-half of the India-Pakistan-US relationship, Rodman insisted "that is certainly not the case now" and pointed out increased interaction in military fields as an indicator in this direction.
"There have been significant milestones in the interaction of the Indian and the US militaries," Rodman said.
He, however, added that the US also valued Pakistan's support in America's global war against terrorism, which is a menace to both India and Pakistan.
With regards to the Indo-US military co-operation, he said: "India has purchased a dozen fire-finding radars and the operators are being trained. Spare parts are going to helicopters. During the Afghan war, the Indian Navy escorted coalition ships through the Malacca Straits and there have been ambitious joint exercises".
Bureau Report