Wednesday, June 29 2005 13:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Indian Americans have nourished and contributed to growing amity and cooperation between the United States and India, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee, who released a Task Force report on Indo-US relations prepared by the US Pacific Council on International Policy and the Indian Observer Research Foundation, lauded the contribution of Indian Americans, to strengthening ties between the two nations.

"US-India relations have been nourished by a highly professional relationship in which Indians who have settled in the US have made a huge contribution," the Minister said.

"Today, when the relationship changes as the Report has described, 'from uneasy cooperation to incipient partnership', it would be fair to recognize the role played by those in the strategic community as well as the range of Indian professionals who have contributed to this re-evaluation of India and US-India relations," he added.

Mukherjee also stressed the need for deeper ties between India and the US, saying, "I would particularly like to underline the emphasis on cooperation in the sphere of the economy, trade, science and technology, healthcare and education."