Yet another important issue moving forward, in this strategically vital relationship, is a broader agreement on counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism issues for stability in the region, Roemer said suggesting an expansion of 'intelligence sharing and best practices on homeland security, so that we don't see another Mumbai attack.'

A third important issue is broadening and expanding the defence and military-to-military relationships that also can result in jobs in America, he said.

'As India seeks to modernise its military, from fighter jets to vessels in the Indian Ocean, to help fight piracy and preserve trading lanes in the Indian Ocean, a strategically important area for us and for them, the end-user monitoring agreement and concluding that task force and working arrangements in the Indian Ocean, on security issues, are key.'

He also suggested a broadening of cooperation on higher education and education reform noting the Indians send about 94,000 students to the US.

Noting that India has some excellent universities, Roemer said joint ventures with US universities could 'provide opportunities for us, to create opportunities for Indians overseas, for our land-grant colleges and agricultural universities, to help with a new green revolution in India.'

On the issue on climate change and clean energy too there are very many opportunities for the two countries to work together, he said.

Roemer served in the US House of Representatives from 1991-2003 before becoming the president of the Centre for National Policy (CNP), a Washington, DC-based national security think tank. He also served on the blue-ribbon commission investigating the Sep 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US and on a key committee to prevent nuclear proliferation.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)