Friday, July 1 2005 15:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Expressing regret for using foul language against the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Indians in the run up to the 1971 Bangladesh war, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today (July 2, 2005) said the remarks had to be seen in the context of the Cold War prevailing at that time.

Contending that he has "high regards" for her, Kissinger said the expression of strong remarks was a "one-time event" besides, which he was a "strong supporter and promoter" of close relationship between India and the US.

"All of these (use of foul language against Indians) have to be seen in the context of a Cold War atmosphere 35 years ago when I had paid a secret visit to China when President Nixon had not yet been there and India had made a kind of an alliance with the Soviet Union," he told NDTV.

"It was in that context that we assessed the immediate situation and in fact we were angry. We wanted to avoid a war between India and Pakistan because we thought it would have been very damaging," the former US Secretary of State said.

Kissinger had described Indians as "bastards" and used foul language against Gandhi for "starting a war" with Pakistan in 1971, according to the declassified documents of the State Department released in Washington on Tuesday.

The then US President Richard Nixon had described her an "old witch".

"In any event I regret these words were used. I have extremely high regards for Mrs Gandhi as a statesman. The fact that we were at cross purpose at that time was inherent in the situation but she was a great leader who did great things for the country."