New Delhi: The Bush Administration's latest National Security Strategy document, released in Washington on Thursday, continues to stress the major themes of pre-emptive war and regime change even as it outlines new areas of cooperation with the "other main centres of global power" such as Europe and India in "democracy promotion," the "war against terror" and the "drive to prevent nuclear proliferation."

Listing the shedding of "decades of mistrust" of India as an example of the "unprecedented levels of cooperation" the U.S. is enjoying "on many of its highest national security priorities", the document says relations with "the world's most populous democracy" have been put "on a new and fruitful path".

In a reflection of the conjoint nature — in American thinking — of India's status as a world power and its willingness to work closely with the U.S., the report says, "India now is poised to shoulder global obligations in cooperation with the United States in a way befitting a major power."

Strategic importance

The document describes South and Central Asia as "regions of great strategic importance where American interests and values are engaged as never before". It notes with satisfaction the progress achieved with India "even as the United States has improved its strategic relationship with Pakistan".

Washington's relations with Islamabad could not be a mirror image of its relations with Delhi, it notes. "For decades, outsiders acted as if good relations with India and Pakistan were mutually exclusive. This administration has shown that improved relations with each are possible and can help India and Pakistan make strides toward a lasting peace between themselves."

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