US predicts better ties with India

C K Arora in Washington

The Clinton administration has predicted a bright future for US-India relations in the post-cold war era.

''We have every reason to believe that future of India-US relations would be very good,'' state department spokesman Nicholas Burns said on Thursday.

In reply to a question, he acknowledged that the two countries had disagreements on some issues. ''Proliferation is an ongoing concern, not only with India but also with Pakistan,'' he added.

''I don't think we play favourites in South Asia because we have interests and principles that must be met,'' he said.

''For a long time during the Cold War the US and India did not have particularly close relationship. I think since the end of the Cold War and certainly since the advent of the Clinton administration, we have made our relations with India a priority,'' Burns said.

He said the US had posted its senior-most serving diplomat Frank Wisner as its ambassador in New Delhi. ''In sending him to India, we wanted to send a very strong signal that we wanted a better relationship with India. On many issues we agree with the Indians and we have outstanding relations,'' the state department spokesman remarked.

Burns made these observations when asked to compare China and India vis-a-vis the American policy towards the two countries. Declining to do this, he said, ''India and China are two great countries and great civilisations with ancient history. They both need be considered on their own.... India is particularly great with substantial history.... It's the world's largest democracy.''

UNI