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Urging United States lawmakers to approve the nuclear pact with India, an umbrella body of organisations representing Indians in the US has termed it as a key step in improving relations with New Delhi.
In a letter to House International Relations Committee, which is scheduled to hear the issue on October 26, the Federation of Indian Associations said it is in long term interest of the US to continually improve relations with India.
"... and the decision to transfer civilian nuclear technology is a key step in this direction," FIA President Sudhir Parikh said addressing Committee Chairman Henry Hyde.
"I urge you to support this agreement (reached between President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July) that is an important part of the process of transforming relations with this fellow democracy," Parikh said in the letter.
"India and the United States are natural partners and we need to strengthen these ties in every way because it meets our interests and furthers our objectives," he said.
He pointed to India's record of strict controls which ensure against proliferation of weapons technology.
"On the other hand, India's neighbours - Pakistan and China - have been the main source of proliferation of nuclear and missile technology to countries like Iran, Libya and North Korea," he added.
The FIA comprises outfits representing Indians in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut states.