US President George W Bush has said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's scheduled visit to Washington on November 9 was an important opportunity to reaffirm the US interest in building a broad-based partnership with India. White House Press Secretary, Ari Fleischer said that President Bush felt that the visit will also promote closer cooperation on a range of common security and economic issues.
“President bush looks forward to discussing ways to strengthen the anti-terrorism campaign and to foster regional stability in South asia”, said Fleischer on Wednesday. Secretary of State Colin Powell, during his visit to New Delhi earlier this week, extended the invitation on behalf of Mr Bush, which Mr Vajpayee accepted. Meanwhile, Mr Bush had asked the Congress to release up to $ 50 million in assistance to Pakistan without regards to any provisions of the law. In an communication to the Congress, he said, “It is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $ 50 million to Pakistan without regard to any provision of law”. Bureau Report