Thursday, September 21 2006 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The improved Indo-US relationship should touch upon the `more important issues like environment, health, education and so many other areas' to take it to a new height, former US Deputy Secretary of State, Strobe Talbott, said here yesterday (Sept 20,2006).

"The relationship between India and the US was nothing but frowning at each other, even five years back. However, things have changed and tapping the opportunity, both the countries should deliberate on social issues to take it to a new dimension," he said on the sidelines of a book release function.

Maintaining that the nuke deal between the two countries had played some what a catalyctical role towards cementing the relationship, he added that this was a sea-change from the past when the two countries confined their discussions only to nuclear issues and Pakistan.

"Social development never took the center stage of discussion between the two countries. However, two Government shave crossed the threshold limit and now we are having a genuinely good relationship," Talbott said.

On Indo-Pak ties, the former American Deputy Secretary of State said that dialogue between the two countries should be maintained.

Talbott said that since the US, China and India have the potential to control the ongoing century, there should not exist misunderstandings between the three.

"These three countries should work as the three tips of a triangle and have faith and trust in each other," he added.