Obama to bat for strong Indo-US ties

Washington, Jan 20 (PTI) There may be some anxiety in
India about how the Obama administration will deal with the
sub-continent, but Barack Obama has personally voiced his
commitment to further build a close strategic partnership
between the two countries.

An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi whose autobiography is among
his favourite books, Obama carries a medallion of Lord Hanuman
with him as a good luck charm.

There has been some disquiet in Delhi following reports
that Obama may name a special envoy on Kashmir but recent
indications point to the appointment of an envoy for Pakistan
and Afghanistan or the Indian sub-continent without mentioning
Kashmir.

On terrorism, another issue of immense concern to New
Delhi, Obama has said that both India and the US "have been
victims of catastrophic terrorist attacks and we have a shared
interest in succeeding in the fight against al-Qaeda and its
operational and ideological affiliates".

Obama had strongly condemned the November 26 terror
strikes in Mumbai.

"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians
demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism. The
United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships
with India and nations around the world to root out and
destroy terrorist networks.

"We stand with the people of India, whose democracy will
prove far more resilient than the hateful ideology that led to
these attacks," the President-elect's Chief National Security
Spokesperson had said.

On the issue of outsourcing, a sector in which India has
a major stake, Obama has promised to offer tax incentives to
companies that create jobs in the United States.

The US "cannot and should not put up walls around our
economy. But we must find a way to make globalisation and
trade work for American workers," he had said.

"I will pursue common sense measures such as offering tax
incentives to companies that create jobs in the United
States."

Obama, who backed the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal after
initial reservations, had said that he voted for the agreement
because India "is a strong democracy and a natural strategic
partner for the US in the 21st century."

On the Indo-US ties under his Administration, Obama has
said he would move forward to build "a close strategic
partnership" between the two countries.

"The world's oldest democracy and the world's largest
democracy are natural partners, sharing important interests
and fundamental democratic values," he had said.

About Mahatma Gandhi, he said he had always looked to the
apostle of peace as an inspiration "because he embodies the
kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary
people come together to do extraordinary things."

"Gandhi's significance is universal. Countless people
around the world have been touched by his spirit and example,"
he had said. PTI