Washington: The new Ambassador-designate to India, David C Mulford, has assured India of strong US support in its fight against terrorism and ruled out any role for his country as "manager, mediator or referee" in Indo-Pak relations.

"The American people will long remember India's strong show of support in the difficult days following the September 11 tragedy. We are grateful for India's willingness to join us in the fight against terrorism," Mulford, who was appearing at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday (November 21).

"I also want to emphasise that the United States strongly supports India in its battle against terrorism, just as India has supported us," he said.

"I want to assure the Committee that, if confirmed, the global war on terror will be a top priority for me," Mulford added.

Asked by Chairman Richard Lugar whether it is possible for the US to press India and Pakistan on issues dividing them, Mulford said that while it may be necessary to press both India and Pakistan, he did not think the US should insert itself as manager, mediator or referee.

He pointed out that the problem is a very longstanding one and is deep and complex.

The US, he said, welcomes the recent initiative of Prime Minister Vajpayee offering his hand of friendship, and he hoped that this initiative would move forward.

Mulford said that the holding of the hearing so quickly following his nomination reflects the priority the Committee attaches to this important post.

President Bush, said Mulford, has himself assigned a high priority to the US relationship with India.

"I am strongly supportive of this priority of the Administration," said Mulford. "The US relationship with India is clearly moving into a pivotal phase, perhaps providing for both countries the most important opportunity for productive collaboration in their respective histories," he said.

If confirmed (which is expected to be soon, by the full Senate), he said, he will have the privilege of joining an Administration team that is hard at work on the goal of fundamentally transforming the US- India bilateral relationship into a mature partnership.

President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee articulated this objective when they first met in November 2001, he said.

PTI