'US looks forward to working with India in rebuilding Afghan'

New Delhi, Dec 3 (PTI) A day after US President Barack
Obama announced his new Af-Pak policy and a troop surge in
Afghanistan, the US Thursday said it looks forward to working
with India in rebuilding the war-torn country.

US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer, who was in
Washington during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's state
visit to the US, said Obama also sought Singh's "important"
views on Afghanistan.
"After the the PM's very successful visit to Washington
and before his statement on the new Af-Pak policy, the
President also called the PM and they had a very good talk,"
Roemer told reporters at the US pavillion at a food expo here.
He said the US President sought Singh's "very important"
views on Afghanistan, "this shows how much respect the US has
for the (Indian) Prime Minister and his views on the region".
He said the issues of terrorism and global economy
featured prominently during the Indian PM's visit to the US.
"We thank PM for his support in rebuilding Afghanistan --
in the development work, in education and economy. We look
forward to working with India on the issue... as also on
agriculture and commerce," he said.
Roemer said there was scope for greater trade relations
between India and the US in the agricultural sector.
"I am happy to know that agricultural trade has grown by
27 per cent between India and the US in the past year. Nothing
helps in strengthening ties more than food, as we all know
this especially in India where we love food," he said. PTI WAJ