India is very important to us: US

October 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Describing India as "an important ally", the White House has noted that the US continues to be engaged with the Indians to bring about peace in an important region of the world. "I think it goes without saying that India is an important ally," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Friday when asked if after winning the Nobel Peace Prize President Barack Obama, who has often mentioned Mahatma Gandhi in his speeches, would work harder than ever for global peace, including in the Indian subcontinent.

September 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Describing India and Pakistan as two very important countries, the United States says it is encouraging Islamabad to fully investigate and bring those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. "Well, we certainly have encouraged and continue to encourage Pakistan to fully investigate the Mumbai attacks, and even more importantly, bring those responsible before their judicial system," a State Department spokesman told reporters Wednesday.

September 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Throwing its weight behind India's demand that alleged 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and five other terror suspects in Pakistan be brought to justice, the US Friday said it was "very important" that they be punished for their crimes against "India, US and the world". "I think that there are five, probably six suspects, being held at Islamabad.

September 18th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - After witnessing several decades of dictatorship, six out of ten Pakistanis feel that it is 'very important' to live in a democratic country. According to a study titled 'World Public Opinion on Political Tolerance', nearly 62 per cent of Pakistanis feel it's 'very important' to live in a democratic country, while 26 per cent said that it is 'somewhat important.' Only seven per cent feel that democracy is 'not very important', The Dawn reports.

September 6th, 2009 KARACHI - Stressing the need for resumption of bilateral talks with India, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Islamabad wants relations with New Delhi on an equal footing. "We want relations with India on an equal basis and it is our resolve that we will not allow our soil to be used for terrorism.

August 21st, 2009 SYDNEY - Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will visit India later this month to take its relationship with New Delhi to "a higher level". Gillard will leave for a five-day trip Aug 30, paving the way for a visit by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd later in the year, his first to India since coming to power in 2007, The Age reported Friday.

July 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US looks at an end-use monitoring agreement that it hopes to reach with India during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit as "part of the fulfilment" of their "important" civil nuclear deal. "We are working with India on an end use agreement (for sensitive US technology and equipment"," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Philip J.

July 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Calling Kashmir as a "sensitive hotspot", President Barack Obama's nominee to be his envoy in India says the US would diplomatically encourage India and Pakistan to talk about the "delicate and sensitive issue". "I think it is an issue.

July 4th, 2009 CHICAGO - The governor of President Barack Obama's home state Illinois has expressed a desire to work together with India, saying the people of India are exceptionally important for America. "We want to work together with India, the largest democracy, hand in hand culturally, economically and in other ways to benefit all," said Governor Pat Quinn, addressing the 17th annual convention of Telugu Association of North America (TANA) in Chicago.

July 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States has made it clear that India remains one of its most important allies. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake told a US daily that Pakistan and Afghanistan are important allies of the United States, but not at the cost of India.

June 8th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith Monday named Peter Varghese as the next envoy to India. Varghese is considered the country's top spy as the head of the Office of National Assessments (ONA).

June 5th, 2009 BRUSSELS - Welcoming the address of President Pratibha Patil to the Indian parliament, the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in Belgium said the importance of the Indian diaspora must not be viewed only in static economic terms but as social and cultural ambassadors of India, EuAsiaNews reported Friday. President Patil in her address to the parliament said Thursday India would deepen its ties with its 25-million diaspora in 130 countries that has emerged as an important force in respective countries of domicile.

April 25th, 2009 LAHORE - US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has said there is no evidence that India is supporting violence in Pakistan. "If the Indians were supporting those miscreants in Pakistan that would be extraordinarily bad, really dangerous, but they are not doing so.

April 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Calling India an important partner in its diplomatic agenda, the US says its looks forward to much more 'fruitful days of cooperation' in facing terrorism and other challenges together. 'US-India - look, we have a very good, broad, substantive relationship with India on a wide range of fronts,' State Department spokesman Robert A.

February 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Denying that President Barack Obama's administration is ignoring India, the US has asserted that India is a 'very important strategic partner' and it certainly was keen on implementing their historic civil nuclear deal. 'No, that's not the case at all,' State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters Thursday in response to suggestions that Washington had already started ignoring India after George W.