NEW DELHI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A day after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates folded up his two-day visit to India, words are doing the rounds in the corridors of power in the Indian national capital that the trip was intended to bolster Indo-U.S. partnership and check terrorism.
Political analysts claimed that Gates' visit was the first by a top Barack Obama administration official, after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's state visit to Washington last November. This visit is intended mainly to further Indo-U.S. ties, as Washington has been demanding both India and Pakistan to pay greater attention to the terror threat stalking not only the region but the world.
"The U.S. understands India's potential in the region. Secretary Gates' trip on the heels of Prime Minister Singh's successful state visit to Washington clearly indicates that the U. S. is keen on sustaining the momentum gathered since last November, " said political analyst Ajay Singh.
"India is the focal power in South Asia and its partnership with the U.S. is crucial. The visit is also intended to make ground for President Obama's visit in the middle of this year," Singh said.
Secretary Gates, who arrived in India on Tuesday, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Defense Minister A.K. Antony and several leading figures in the Indian government.
During his talks with Indian leaders, Gates warned of an impending danger that Pakistan-based terror outfits like Lashkar-e- Toiba were focusing on destabilizing India and triggering a war between India and Pakistan, who have fought three major wars since 1947.
"It's very dangerous for the region as a whole. It does require a high level of cooperation among us all," Gates had said, while asking India and Pakistan to stop blaming each other on any new violence perpetrated by terrorists.
What has drawn great attention here is that the U.S. defence secretary had said that the Islamist groups were focusing particular attention on India and Pakistan.
He had also said that Pakistani-based militants were trying to carry out strikes within India in hopes of provoking an Indian counterattack that could escalate into a new conflict.
"This shows Washington is concerned about the volatility in South Asia and his visit shows that the U.S. wants both the neighboring nations to jointly fight the war against terror," said political analyst S.K. Gupta.
"The U.S. is also pushing India to sign the Communication Inter- operability and Security Memorandum of Agreement, which will provide for sharing of information by enabling an easier interface between their militaries," he added.
According to the political analysts, the visit has other aspects as well. They pointed out that India is fast emerging as a U.S. ally which could become one of the biggest purchasers of American-made weapons, airplanes and military vehicles in the world.
"In fact, Gates had himself said that India and the U.S. has made significant strides in developing a stable defense trade. Here is again another American interest. So, cooperation in the defense sector is another area which played a key role during Secretary Gates' visit," said Ajay Singh.
The U.S. also sought to reassure India of the Obama administration's long-term commitment to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.
"As the U.S. steps up its effort to win international assistance for Afghanistan, Gates told Indian prime minister that Washington did not intend to cut and run. This is because of mounting fears in New Delhi that Washington lacks the heart for a prolonged fight against the Taliban which had in the recent past attacked the Indian mission in Kabul," said security expert Ravi Dawa.
India has asked U.S.-led NATO force to stay in Afghanistan in the foreseeable period of time to avoid a coming back to power of the Talibans.
