US admin appreciates India's efforts to improve regional ties

WASHINGTON: Identifying India as an "emerging global power," the US administration's top intelligence official today appreciated its efforts to improve regional ties, including its approach to the rising power China and the war-devastated Afghanistan.

Dennis C Blair, Director of National Intelligence in his Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, also noted positively the efforts of the UPA-led government to improve regional relationships through advocacy of greater economic links among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations.

"... and (through) successful bilateral meetings such as the January 2010 State Visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.

Submitting the report before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Blair said Indian leaders have publicly declared that rise of China and India is not a harbinger of automatic conflict but a constructive challenge and an opportunity for innovation and collaboration.

He recalled that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his US visit last year had noted that the world should "prepare for the rise of China as a major power," and also said that engagement with China was the "right strategy" for India despite some differences over border issues.

India's relationship with Pakistan, however, remains stalled in the aftermath of 26/11 with India linking dialogue resumption to prosecution of perpetrators, he said.