While conveying the readiness of the Bush administration to work with the new government in New Delhi, the US today said it was ‘‘very keen’’ to see the dialogue process between India and Pakistan continue and is ‘‘encouraging’’ the two countries to carry forward with this initiative.Complimenting Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her election victory, US Ambassador to India David Mulford told mediapersons that Washington had a ‘‘long history’’ with the Congress and was ‘‘optimistic’’, ‘‘enthusiastic’’ and ready to work with the new government here.When asked about US concerns over the trajectory of economic reforms in India in the light of Left parties supporting a Congress-led government, Mulford said: ‘‘The Left parties are as interested in growth and progress . the new government will be all for maintaining the high level of growth’’. He, however, did not comment on the reforms, saying that the new government was still to be formed and its policies yet to be announced. Mulford went on to emphasise the importance of Indo-US ties and said it was a key relationsip for Washington, adding that the Bush administration attached ‘‘high priority’’ to the strategic relationship between the two countries.He reminded the media that the priority was maintained during the transition from the Clinton administration to the Bush administration. ‘‘Besides being based on the importance of the strategic interest of the two countries, (the relationship) is in the process of being expanded into a comprehensive relationship taking all areas of activities between them.’’Mulford, however, laid stress on the economic aspect of the relationship, adding that the US had ‘‘comprehensive economic interest’’ and it is of ‘‘key importance’’.According to Mulford, the strategic relationship, which now includes civilian nuclear and space issues besides hi-tech commerce and missile defence, was a ‘‘complex’’ process. But he did not feel that a change of government in New Delhi would have any other impact as ‘‘the priorities are the same’’. He, in fact, hoped to see ‘‘significant’’ progress at the Indo-US space summit in Bangalore next month.Mulford refused to comment on whether he would take up the issue of India sending troops to Iraq with the new government. He, instead, clarified that the US had not made any fresh request to India on the subject.
