US no longer sees India through prism of Pak: Mulford

The US no longer looks at India through the "prism" of Pakistan, according to outgoing US Ambassador to India David Mulford, who describes "de-hyphenating of India-Pakistan obsession" as a major accomplishment of his four-year tenure.

"One of the accomplishments has been to de-hyphenate the India-Pak obsession that was present when I got here. We set out to do that," he told PTI in an interview, his last as the American envoy in New Delhi.

He sought to dispel apprehensions that the Barack Obama administration may not be as "warm" towards India as the previous Bush government, saying the new dispensation in Washington realises India's importance and would be "extending" the bilateral relationship that has seen tremendous growth over the last five years.

"The Obama administration shares the view that India is very important country to the US. There is very high regard for India and Indians living in the US. I think the Obama administration is fully aware of this and will seek to extend the relationship. I don't think there is any doubt about it," the outgoing envoy said.