US sees India as 'anchor of stability': US lawmaker

Describing India as an ‘anchor of stability’ in the region and an important partner, an influential United States Congressman has expressed confidence in the future of Indo-US strategic partnership.

During a meeting with Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao, veteran Congressman Ted Poe recalled his visit to India in September 2012 and said that sectors such as education, health and energy had emerged as important pillars of this multi-faceted partnership.

Rao and Poe also exchanged views on regional issues and discussed recent developments in India-US relations, including cooperation in counter-terrorism.

"They also exchanged views on the regional situation in South Asia. Congressman Poe said that the US looked upon India as an anchor of stability in the region and as an important partner in promoting regional and global peace, security and development," the Indian Embassy spokesman said.

Poe, a five term lawmaker from Texas, expressed confidence in the future of the India-US strategic partnership.Rao noted that Governors of a number of US states were now visiting India to explore new opportunities for closer cooperation, reflecting the widening base and the depth of the India-US partnership, the Indian embassy said in a statement.

Poe holds a number of important committee assignments in the Congress. He sits on the house foreign affairs Committee, where he is the chairman of its subcommittee on terrorism, nonproliferation and trade, as well as a member of the subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and emerging threats.

He is also a member of the committee on the judiciary, where he is the vice chairman of the subcommittee on immigration and border security.