US, India have differences on Libya, Syria: Blake

Acknowledging that there are differences between India and the US on issues like Libya and Syria, a top Obama administration official has said the two countries need to "redouble" their efforts to work together to reduce any misunderstanding between them.

"I think there has been an evolution in India's voting record in the UN Security Council. We have had some differences (with India)," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, told reporters here.

"You pointed to Libya, I agree with that, I would also say that we got differences on Syria. That underlines the need for us to redouble our efforts to work together to reduce any misunderstanding," Blake said in response to a question.

The United States clearly explained what it is trying to achieve, he said.

"I think we all are trying to achieve ultimately same objectives in the West Asia. And sometimes it is the question of tactics, but this just reinforces the importance of dialogue," he observed.

Noting that the US and India have worked through issues much more complicated than those in the past, Blake hoped that the two countries would be able to manage them as well.

Responding to questions about the reform of the UN Security Council, Blake said the US is on record on it as President Barack Obama endorsed India's candidature during his trip to the country last November.

"This process is still ongoing to try to figure out the expansion of the Security Council, both permanent and non-permanent members, and so that is really up to India now to try to pursue that process.

"Of course we would be co-coordinating that. We have many many priorities as well in the Council right now, foremost among them those related to the Middle East," Blake said.

He said the United States is now trying to develop a special relationship with Indian states so as to benefit the ties from growing dynamism of these states.

Blake said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna chaired a very successful strategic dialogue in July in India in which the two countries made very important progress to advance what Obama has called "one of our defining partnerships for the 21st century."

In addition to cooperation on counter-terrorism issues, Blake said the two countries are taking steps to advance the burgeoning trade relationship.