US unhappy about terrorist groups operating from Pak soil: Owen

Mumbai, Jan 2 (UNI) US Consul General Michael S Owen today said his country was not happy about the terrorist groups operating from Pakistan.

He, however, said the Pakistan Government was supporting the US in fighting terrorism.

While replying to queries after delivering a talk on ''Promoting Indo-US Relationship: A Way Forward'', hosted by the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) here, Mr Owne said, ''We are not happy with this situation, but its not an easy task to resolve immediately. We are trying to push the Pakistan Government against them.'' Earlier, in his address, Mr Owen said both India and US are fighting against terrorism and the two countries together can shape the 21st century.

He admitted that post-9/11, US immigration authorities have behaved rudely with the people. ''I myself had been a victim of such rude behaviour,'' he noted.

He said that about two million people of Indian origin are residing in the US, while nearly 85,000 Americans are, at present, staying in India.

He said the highest number of 81,000 Indian students are studying in the US. They are followed by the Chinese students who number 64,000.

Mr Owen opined that India should lift restrictions on Foreign Direct Investment in the education sector to allow US varsities to come here. ''This will be a win-win situation for both the countries,'' he said.

He said Indian investment is coming to the US and there could be tractors or cars, manufactured by an Indian company, on US roads in two years. The Indo-US bilateral relationship in agriculture will also benefit both the countries, he said.

On the Indo-US nuclear agreement, he said both the US Senate and Congress had voted in favour of the agreement with huge margins.

UNI