Mumbai: India is being perceived as a significant country in relation to its geographical and strategic position and due its emergence as a leader in South Asia, US Senator Frank Pallone said today (Jan 6, 2004).

He said the Indo-US relations were growing and that India being a major country could play a major role in South Asia in the coming years.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Indo-American Society, Pallone said the rapid changes in the last few years between India and US in the area of Defence security and anti-terrorism efforts have been evident post September 11, 2001.

Prior to it, Pentagon officials were beginning to realise India's strategic significance in relation to conflict in the Middle East and the military build up in China, he said.

"Joint military exercises were taking place and intelligence exchanges existed with regards to the constant threat from terrorism. However, post-September 11, Bush administration has stepped up its activities and began to see India as an important ally for strategic purposes," Pallone said.

"The stepped-up activity has manifested itself most notably in terms of arms sale such as radar equipment and third party activity such as approval for Israel to sell India the Phalcon Air Borne Warning System," Pallone said.