'India has excellent record of protecting its nuclear assets'

The United States in Friday commended India's 'excellent' record of protecting its nuclear assets from terrorists.

Coverage: Indo-US Nuclear Tango

"The Indian government has an excellent record of protecting its nuclear assets from terrorists and is taking steps to improve further the security of its strategic systems," the State Department said in its annual report on worldwide terrorism.

It pointed out that the Indian Parliament in May passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Bill designed to prevent the transfer of WMD, delivery systems and associated technologies to state and non-state actors, including terrorists.

However, it warned India about the Naxalites operating in the eastern part of the country that might pose a significant long-term challenge.

The State Department said terrorists staged 'hundreds of attacks' on people and property in India and most prominent among them were terror outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir, the Maoists in the eastern India and the 'ethno-linguistic nationalists' in its Northeastern states.

"Naxalite terrorism is growing in sophistication and lethality and may pose a significant long-term challenge," it said.