Indo-US ties to grow on `very promising trajectory`: Blake

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jul 13 (PTI) The US has said its relationship
with India is expected to grow on a very promising trajectory
both in the near future and over the long term, with the focus
on counter-terrorism cooperation, climate change, civil
nuclear energy and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.
"Broadly speaking, relations between the United States
and India have never been better, and are likely to continue
on their very promising trajectory - both in the near future
and over the long-term," Assistant Secretary of State for
South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said.
"That's why President Obama has called India an
'indispensable partner' and said that 'our relations with
India will be one of the defining partnerships for the United
States in the 21st century'," he told the Indian Institute of
Technology-Kanpur Golden Jubilee Alumni Convention here
recently.
Blake noted that Obama and Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton wanted to elevate the US relationship with India by
establishing a Strategic Dialogue which convened for the first
time last month in Washington.
"We began the Dialogue to give senior-level strategic
direction to the many working groups and dialogues already in
progress, conceive new initiatives to confront the new
challenges of the 21st century like climate change and
capitalise on new opportunities for cooperation in areas like
food security and clean energy," he said.
Referring to the growing Indo-US relationship, Blake
recalled that in the area of strategic cooperation, the US
reached an agreement with India on nuclear reprocessing six
months ahead of schedule.
"We are heartened that the Indian Government is committed
to passing Nuclear Liability Legislation that is the last step
needed for our companies to begin civil nuclear investments in
India," the Obama Administration's top diplomat for South Asia
said.
"Our counter-terrorism cooperation has expanded
dramatically to include rail security, urban policing,
information exchange and much more to bring terrorists to
justice and help prevent terrorist attacks," he said.
Clinton has welcomed India's contributions to Afghan
reconstruction, capacity building and development efforts and
its offer to enhance these efforts.
"We are now exploring how the US and India can work
more closely together in Afghanistan," Blake said. (More) PTI