The Bush administration has said it will continue to build a new and very important strategic relationship with India.
"We will continue building a new and very important strategic relationship with India," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.
She made the reference to US' ties with India while talking about Washington's relations with South Asian countries during a press conference.
Rice said stressed that "free and fair" elections in Pakistan would advance the goal of a moderate and a democratic country.
"In Central Asia -- Central and South Asia, we and our NATO and Afghan allies are fighting together in Afghanistan and it is a fight that we will win. We will support the Afghan government," Rice said.
"In Pakistan, President Musharraf has taken off his uniform and stepped down as chief of the army. And all major civilian leaders have now returned to that country. Free and fair elections in January will advance the goal of a moderate, democratic Pakistan that is a partner in the war on terrorism," she added.
"At the same time, we will continue building a new and very important strategic relationship with India," Rice said.
The top Bush administration official maintained that 2007 has been a successful year for American foreign policy and that Washington is dealing with "a lot of serious challenges right now".