September 22, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 14, 1423

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NEW DELHI, Sept 21: A White House strategy paper has described India as a “growing world power” with which “US interests require a strong relationship” while Washington’s ties with Pakistan have been cemented by the war against terrorism.

The US strategy document made available on Friday and which has been approved by President George W. Bush over the weekend, also reaffirms US interest in seeing India and Pakistan resolve their disputes.

“Our involvement in this regional dispute, building on earlier investments and bilateral relations, looks first to concrete steps by India and Pakistan that can help defuse military confrontation,” the paper was quoted by India Today magazine’s online newspaper as saying.

It said, the US administration sees India’s potential to become one of the great democratic powers and “has worked hard to transform our relationship accordingly.”

As regards Pakistan, it said, “US bilateral relations have been bolstered by Pakistan’s choice to join the war against terror and move toward building a more open and tolerant society.”

The annual strategy document laid down the strategic path for each administration and is one of the most important published papers of a presidency, the online newspaper said.

The United States has undertaken a transformation in its bilateral relationship with India “based on a conviction that US interests require a strong relationship with India.

“We are the two largest democracies, committed to political freedom protected by representative government,” the strategy paper said.

The paper said India was moving towards greater economic freedom as well. “We have a common interest in the free flow of commerce, including through the vital sea lanes of the Indian Ocean.

“Finally, we share an interest in fighting terrorism and in creating a strategically stable Asia.”

The US paper said differences remained over the development of India’s nuclear and missile programmes and the pace of its economic reforms. Yet, “today we start with a view of India as a growing world power with which we have common strategic interests. Through a strong partnership with India, we can best address any differences and shape a dynamic future.”

This year’s paper, leaked a day in advance of the official release by the New York Times, clubbed Russia, India and China and said “we are attentive to the possible renewal of old patterns of great power competition.

“Several potential great powers are now in the midst of internal transition — most importantly Russia, India and China. In all three cases, recent developments have encouraged our hope that a truly global consensus about basic principles is slowly taking shape.”