India, US should be partners in counter-terrorism: Nicholas Burns

New Delhi, July 23 (ANI): Former American diplomat Nicholas Burns has said India and the United States face identical security threats, and so, that countries should be partners in counter-terrorism.

"India faces a pernicious terrorist threat inside the country, particularly from outside; some of them Pakistan-based, some of them based in other places. United States faces in some cases, an identical threat, in some cases one is a little bit different. We should be partners in counter-terrorism. We should be sympathetic to each other and understand the problems that each other faces in this region and around the world," Burns told reporters here on Thursday.

He further said Washington has a different set of policies for India and Pakistan, and it should not be misconstrued.

"We will have separate relationships with India and Pakistan. The relationship that we are building with you is entirely different from the relationship that we have with Pakistan. Both are important," he added.

He also sympathized with India's fight with the Maoist threat in its central and eastern regions.

"I know that India faces a major problem with the Naxalites (Maoists), with the security problem in the eastern part of the country. Americans are entirely sympathetic. This problem has gone under-reported in the Western press," Burns added.

India and the United States in May held their first strategic dialogue, testing a pledge from U.S. President Barack Obama administration that it considers India a global partner. (ANI)