India to further strengthen relations with US

The new Congress-led coalition government in India will continue to engage with the United Statesin a "constructive" manner to further strengthen bilateral ties inall areas.

"We will continue to engage our American friends in a ' constructive manner' as the government would like to further strengthen, deepen and widen Indo-US relations in all areas,"the Press Trust of India quoted External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh as saying on Wednesday.

New Delhi has conveyed its desire to have the "closest relations" with the United States, when US Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Singh soon after Singh assumed office on Monday.

Talking about his meeting with American Ambassador David Mulford, who called on Singh to deliver a letter from Powell, Singh said that he had emphasized the importance of the two nations working together to combat terrorism.

"I told him it is in the interest of the United States, India and the international community to underscore the cordiality and intensity of Indo-US relations," he said.

On his part, Mulford briefed the Indian minister of the evolving situation in Iraq.

US Under Secretary for Defense and Policy Douglas Feith will come here next week for the meeting of the Defense Policy Group when he holds parleys with Defense Secretary Ajay Prasad.

The range of the India-US dialogue has increased considerably in recent times.

Especially after President Bill Clinton's visit to India in 2000, India-US relations have developed at an unprecedented pace, particularly in the politico-military sphere.