New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS): Sending a clear message to Pakistan, US President Barack Obama has said "safe havens" of terrorism within that country were not acceptable and described India as a "true global" partner.
Obama also called for those behind the Mumbai terror attacks to be brought to justice.
"I have made it clear that even as the US works with Pakistan to meet the threat of terrorism, safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable and that those behind the Mumbai terrorist attack must face justice," Obama said in an interview to the India Today weekly magazine which is to be published in its upcoming issue.
Obama, who arrives here Jan 25 on a three-day visit during which he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, said: "As president, I have made sure that the US has been unrelenting in its fight against terrorist groups -- a fight in which Indians and Americans are united."
Obama said Prime Minster Narendra Modi's maiden visit to the US last September was an opportunity for him to benefit from Modi's resounding mandate in 2014 that imbued "new hopes and energy".
"Now, Modi's election and his commitment to a new chapter in the relationship between our countries, gives us an opportunity to further energise our partnership."
Obama, who will be the first US president to visit India twice and the only US president to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade, said the time was opportune to realise his vision for India and US as "true global partners".
"I'd like to think that the stars are aligned to finally realise the vision I outlined in (the Indian) parliament (during last visit) -- India and America as true global partners. That's why I accepted the generous invitation to become the first US president to attend Republic Day as chief guest," he added. Obama in his first visit to India in 2010 had addressed the joint session of both houses of parliament.
"On the most basic level, a good India-US relationship has to be based on the same principles as our successful partnerships with our other close partners and friends around the world," the US president said.
"That includes mutual respect, where even as we acknowledge our different histories and traditions, we value the strengths that we each bring to our relationship.
"It includes recognizing our mutual interests that both our countries will be more secure, and our people will have more jobs and opportunities, when we are working together."
The US president said while it was true that progress has not always come as fast as both sides would have liked, "we have succeeded in deepening the US-India relationship across the board".
"In the last few years, we have increased trade between our two countries by about 60 percent, creating more jobs for Indians and Americans," he said, adding that the militaries of the two countries are conducting more exercises together.
Describing his India visit as "an opportunity to work with Modi to make concrete progress", Obama hoped to embark on a new era in the history of bilateralism between the two countries.
"Forging deeper ties between our two nations has been a key part of my foreign policy since I took over office," Obama said.
He also said that he had a strong relationship with former prime minister Manmohan Singh, whom he treated as his "close partner".
"Given India's strategic location, we can advance our shared security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. When India and the US work together, both our countries, and the world are more secure and prosperous," he said.
"Modi's election spells out people's desire for good governance"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "historic" election May 2014 was a clear indication of the people's desire for "inclusive" and "good governance", US President Barack Obama has said.
"Prime Minister Modi's historic election clearly reflects the desire of many Indians for economic growth that is inclusive, good government that serves citizens, and education that delivers the skills Indians seek," Obama said in an interview to India Today weekly magazine which is published in its upcoming issue.
Referring to Modi's life journey from a tea vendor to becoming the prime minister of the country, Obama said: "His remarkable life story -- from tea seller to prime minister -- is a reflection of the determination of the Indian people to succeed."
He said the prime minister's maiden visit to the US early last September was an opportunity for him to benefit from Modi's resounding mandate in 2014 that imbued "new hopes and energy".
Obama was impressed with Modi's vision for India as well as the readiness and energy he exuded to eliminate the barriers hampering economic growth.
The president, arriving in New Delhi Jan 25 on a three-day visit to attend the Republic Day parade as chief guest, saw it as "an opportunity" to advance the new India-US joint vision that the two countries agreed on during Modi's visit to the US last year.