Describing the nuclear deal as a "bold agreement" aimed at realising "meaningful" cooperation with India, President George W Bush Thursday said the US has "set aside decades of mistrust" and put relations with New Delhi "on a new and fruitful path".
"In July 2005 we signed a bold agreement -- a roadmap to realise the meaningful cooperation that had eluded our two nations for decades. India is poised to shoulder global obligations in cooperation with the United States in a way befitting a major power," he said in the 2006 National Security Strategy report in an obvious reference to the civilian nuclear energy agreement between the two countries.
In the 49-page report released in Washington Thursday morning, the president said, "We have set aside decades of mistrust and put relations with India, the world's most populous democracy, on a new and fruitful path."
"India is a great democracy and our shared values are the foundation of our good relations. Our goal is for the entire region of south and central Asia to be democratic, prosperous and at peace," he said.
"We have made great strides in transforming America's relationship with India, a major power that shares our commitment to freedom, democracy and the rule of law," Bush said while making it clear that the regions of south and central Asia is of "great strategic importance where American interests and values are engaged as never before".
"Progress with India has been achieved even as the United States has improved its strategic relationship with Pakistan. For decades outsiders acted as if good relations with India and Pakistan were mutually exclusive. This administration has shown that improved relations with each other are possible and can help India and Pakistan make strides toward a lasting peace between themselves," Bush said in the national security report, his second since becoming the president.
In the report, Iran has been singled out by Bush as posing the greatest challenge to the US and the president said that diplomacy to prevent Tehran's nuclear programme must prevail to avoid any confrontation.
Bush also reaffirmed the concept of pre-emptive strikes that he first outlined in 2002 and was seen by many as the pretext to invade Iraq the following year.
"If necessary, however, under long-standing principles of self-defence, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur -- even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack," the president said.
"When the consequences of an attack with weapons of mass destruction are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialise. The place of pre-emption in our national security strategy remains the same," he stressed.
Aside from pointing out the achievements of the last four years in the report, the president took the opportunity to criticise countries like Syria, calling it a tyranny that harbours terrorists and a state sponsor of terrorism.
He also urged China to stay on the road of reform and openness.
"China's leaders must realise, however, that they cannot stay on this peaceful path while holding on to old ways of thinking and acting that exacerbate concerns throughout the region and the world," Bush said.
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