India attaches "utmost importance" to its relations with the US despite differences with Washington, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh said here on June 1.

“The impression that there may be a change (in India's policy towards the US) is unfounded,” he told a news conference, his first since assuming office. “Our relationship will be based on mutual respect, understanding, cooperation, not conflict, and goodwill not growling,” he said.

Singh said there were differences between India and the U.S., but did not spell them out. “But these will not aired publicly and will be addressed diplomatically and tactfully.”

He, however, virtually ruled out India sending troops to Iraq for peacekeeping without a clear U.N.

Singh also stressed that the dialogue process with Pakistan would not be stalled, and named National Security Adviser (NSA) J.N. Dixit as the Indian interlocutor for the border talks with China. Former NSA Brajesh Mishra had been dealing with the Chinese so far.

–– Indo-Asian News Service