PM Narendra Modi and Donald Trump have agreed to work for peace in the region (AFP)
India can help the US keep an eye on Pakistan as President Donald Trump has "taken tougher approach to
Islamabad harbouring terrorists", US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said. Noting that Mr Trump recently announced a new strategy for combating terrorism in Afghanistan and South Asia, Ms Haley said one of the pillars of that strategy is the development of America's strategic partnership with India.
"America's overriding interests in Afghanistan and throughout South Asia are to eliminate terrorist safe havens that threaten us. And to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists, we will use all the elements of our national power economic diplomatic and military to pursue these goals," she said.
Critically, we will look to our economic and security partnerships with India, she added. In her address to an event organised by the US India Friendship Council, Ms Haley said Mr Trump has taken a "tougher approach to Pakistan harbouring terrorists."
"Pakistan has been a partner to the US at times. We value and respect that. But we
cannot tolerate this government or any other government giving safe haven to terrorists who target Americans. This new approach will require understanding and restraint from both Pakistan and India," she said.
The US, she said, is looking at India to help US more in Afghanistan particularly in economic and development assistance. India has already made important contributions to the stability of Afghanistan.
"We are really going to need India's help in Afghanistan. They are the good neighbours and partner that we have in the region," Ms Haley said. "So having them helps not only with infrastructure and the aid that they can give towards rebuilding Afghanistan, (they can) also help us to keep an eye on Pakistan," Ms Haley said.
"That is going to be really important in making sure that we hold them accountable, because we are at a point where we kind of laid the groundwork that we need to see better partnership from Pakistan... India is going to help us with that," Ms Haley said in response to a question.
Ms Haley said Mr Trump has just announced a new tougher approach to ensuring that
Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. "It would be catastrophic for the safety of Americans and the world if Iran became a nuclear power. But India is a nuclear power and nobody gives it a second thought. Why?" she said. "Because India is a democracy that threatens no one," she said.