Obama India visit: Indo-US ties should not be transactional, says V K Singh

NEW DELHI:Ahead of President Barack Obama's visit, India today emphasized the need for upgradation of Indo-US ties which should not be "transactional" in nature and not based on "quid pro quo", saying it was in the strategic interest of America.

"It is in the strategic interest of the US to upgrade a relationship which is not transactional in nature...not quid pro quo in nature.

"If that happens, it benefits the US in the long term and it helps India in ensuring that it can come up in a manner in which it is not always accepted to yield transaction or quid pro quo," said Union Minister Gen (Rtd) V K Singh.

Singh, however, said there is a information-sharing mechanism which is in place with the US and European countries that can be "much better" and that is where cooperation is called for.

"Our relationship with the US over a period of time has gone up and down. Certain US Presidents placed relationship with India at a much higher altar at different levels than what the others had done," he said.

Asked whether terror would be on top of the agenda in talks between President Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said "we have a strategic partnership with the US. Certain things have been laid down and shared between us.

"When you are looking at becoming partners in fighting terrorism, certain things have to be upgraded. If this issues is discussed, many more things will come up after this visit is over," he said.

He said although he did not know the particular agenda which will be discussed, he maintained that "India's legitimate concerns will be voiced and India will have a much more sympathetic ear to listen to those and subsequently act on them."

Asserting that global terrorism requires global cooperation, the Minister noted that the US, Europe and India could share intelligence in advance and not later, track accounts wherever they are opened by terror groups to prevent attacks like 26/11.