'Strong appetite within US for India to take leadership role'

There is a strong appetite within tin the region, an influential US lawmaker has said, while making it clear that such a role does come with "responsibilities".
"There's a strong appetite within the United States to encourage (India) to take a stronger leadership role within the region, but leadership does come with responsibilities," Congressman Matt Salmon, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Holds Hearing on Asia Policy, said during a Congressional hearing.
"As India seeks to garner closer commercial and defence relations with the US, it must take steps toward important reforms that will lay the foundation for increased ties," Salmon said.

The Obama Administration, he said, has "half-heartedly" sought to include India in its pivot.
"But the deep well of potential in our bilateral ties remains untapped. India struggles with infrastructure challenges, energy issues and difficult neighbours. But the two world's largest democracies are natural partners," Salmon said.