Clinton sees 8216;dramatic expansion8217; in Indo-US ties

As part of the strategy,Clinton,speaking to top American and Indian corporate executives at the US Chamber of Commerce building yesterday,said India and the US would expand broader security relationship and increased cooperation on counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing. Saying that US and India had faced extraordinary challenges,Clinton referred to the tragic Mumbai attacks and said,8221;The President and I are committed to working with India in whatever way is appropriate to enhance India8217;s ability to protect itself.8221;

The US Secretary of State also touched on need to adapt the architecture of international institutions to reflect their new responsibilities and in this context she said,8221;India8217;s moral stature and its long tradition of leadership among developing countries means it is well suited to take on challenges that multi-institution face.8221;

In an apparent reference to India8217;s efforts for a seat in the UN security Council,Clinton said,8221;India already is a major player on the world stage,and we look to cooperate with New Delhi as it shoulders the responsibilities that accompany its new position of global leadership.8221;

8220;I have always believed states should be awarded enhanced roles in international bodies not only on the basis of their power,but whether they use that power constructively to advance the common good and address global problems,she said.

India and US need to catch up with their growing people-to-people and economic ties,Clinton said,adding 8220;we need to make sure that partnership between Washington and New Delhi will be as advanced and fruitful as the linkages that

already exist between Manhattan and Mumbai,Boston and Bangalore.

She said the new governments in Washington and New Delhi will build this future together and 8220;we will be discussing the details of that partnership when I visit India next month.8221;

8220;We recognise the extraordinary progress that India has made already. And we know that many of these advances have not come easily. And we don8217;t take them for granted. As we pursue an enhanced bilateral partnership,we should recognize that compared to other metrics of our cooperation,our official ties are past due for an upgrade,8221; Clinton said.

She hoped that an expanded partnership between the US and India will be one of the signature accomplishments of both new governments in both countries. 8220;I do plan to make that a personal priority,8221;she said. 8220;To achieve the goal of stronger ties between our countries,we will have to confront and transcend the mistrust that has hampered our cooperation in the past,and address the lingering uncertainties in our relationship still today,8221; Clinton said.

She said the Obama Administration wants India to be anchor of regional peace and stability and that the two countries should create a new era of relationship. Noting that the successes and futures of the United States and India are intertwined,Clinton told a packed hall of top Indian and US corporate leaders: 8220;We want India to do well on its own,for its own sake,but we also have a stake in that outcome because we want India to succeed as a model of democratic development.8221; 8220;We want India to succeed as an anchor for regional and global security,and we want India to succeed so that the world8217;s two largest democracies can work together as strong partners,8221; she said.