Washington: The Bush Administration today said the signing of the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear deal helped transform the bilateral relations into the "strategic" ties and made the two countries "global partners".

"We have formed a new strategic partnership with the world's largest democracy India," National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said in an address to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a public policy research institute based in Washington.

"A historic agreement for civil nuclear cooperation has helped transform our relationship and make us global partners," Hadley said.

His speech highlighted foreign policy achievements of the outgoing Bush Administration and the challenges that lay ahead for the incoming Obama Administration.

Turning to Pakistan, the top Bush Administration official said the Taliban fighters have found a safe haven in that country.

Afghanistan, he said, would also continue to pose a major challenge to the upcoming Obama Administration.

"Afghanistan will be another early challenge for the new Administration. The Taliban remain a serious threat. Its fighters have found safe haven across the border in Pakistan," Hadley said.
Source : PTI