US trying to pursue ind policies for India, Pak

Jaipur, Sept 22: Indo-US relations have suffered because of the traditional hostility between India and Pakistan in the past and now US is trying to pursue independent policies towards the two Asian neighbours, an official disclosed here.

The recent Indo-US nuclear deal is the manifestation of this new thinking in the US State Department, according to Mr Larry Schwartz, minister-counsellor for Public Affairs, US embassy.

Mr Schwartz, while delivering a talk here yesterday on the concluding day of the two-day road show organised by the US embassy, said US and India are natural partners in development sharing same values of democracy and freedom. He said in recent days India and US are finding more common grounds in co-operation.

He said India has emerged as a strong and self-confident nation and is doing well economically and must be proud of their achievements. But he said there has always been a tendency to compare India and Pakistan but India need not measure its achievements with its neighbour.

He said, ''The nuclear deal is a symbol of the much better changes taking place in the relations between the two countries.'' He said co-operation is growing in IT, pharmaceuticals and space like never before and President Bush attaches high priority to India.

Answering a question on the US-Pak relations, he said, ''US is very concerned with terrorism and Pakistan is an important partner in our war against terror. Terrorism is a world problem demanding a world solution.'' He said the people of Pakistan want peace with India, adding, ''During my numerous vist to Pakistan, I could gauge the public mood in favour of peace and good neighbourly relations with India.''

UNI

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