Romney adviser raps Obama on India policy

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- U.S.-Indian relations have seen a "little bit of retreat" under the Obama administration, an adviser to likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said.

Speaking to foreign journalists during a conference call, Mitchell Reiss, senior foreign policy adviser to Romney, said Republican Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were proud of the partnership forged between the United States and India during their administrations, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

"The relationship between India and the U.S. is mutually beneficial and there is a need to forge new areas of cooperation," Reiss -- who worked in both Bush administrations -- was quoted as saying.

"I think that what I have seen under the current administration is little bit of retreat, little bit of backsliding from the promise that was starting" to be realized. I think it was mutually beneficial as these things should be both economically, diplomatically, and in [the] military and security sphere as well."

Reiss said a Romney administration would like to restore the strategic partnership with India, the world's largest democracy, as well as develop new areas of cooperation.

PTI said it was the first time the Romney campaign had spoken publicly on India.