Giving a concise definition of Indo-US ties, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has described it as an “affair of the heart” with the usual ups and downs.
Ms Clinton stood by remarks she made two years ago, when she described relations between Washington and New Delhi as an affair of the heart.
“With respect to affairs of the heart, they usually have ups and downs. But that doesn’t make them any less heartfelt or any less of a commitment. So I feel as strongly today as I did two years ago,” she said amidst laughter.
Her comments came during a joint press conference with external affairs minister S.M. Krishna following the third annual strategic dialogue between the two countries, which by all accounts would be her last one as the secretary of state.
She also took dig at the media, saying journalists have a temptation to zero in on the differences.
“.....I think that it’s always a temptation to zero in on what the differences are. That is understandable and it certainly is to be expected by the press. That’s part of your job,” 64-year-old Clinton said. Meanwhile, India has emphasised on defence technology transfer, co-development and co-production with the United States in the expanding defence ties between the two countries.