Dr Ami Bera was on the cusp of creating history by becoming only the third Indian-American ever to be elected to the United States House of Representatives, as five others from the community bit the dust in the polls.
So far only two Indian-Americans have been elected to the US Congress. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Indian-American elected to the House of Representatives in 1950s, while Bobby Jindal, now the Louisiana governor, was the second one.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is a good partner in war against terrorism, even as Pakistan military or the Inter-Services Intelligence, according to her, have maintained relationship with terrorist groups for decades.
The United States has a challenging, but critical relationship with Pakistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said, as she underlined the commitment of the Obama administration to work with Islamabad.
President Barack Obama last week paid rich tributes to the late Dalip Singh Saund -- the first Asian-American and Indian-American United States Congressman -- and described him as a trailblazer. Aziz Haniffa reports.
Responding to the questions from Congressmen, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake said India is making progress in this regard not because of any pressure from the US, but because of "financial and commercial considerations".
They alleged that they fled from their country because of religious persecution from the Hindu majority.
United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday paid rich tribute to late Dalip Singh Saund -- the first Asian American United States Congressman -- and described him as a trailblazer for the entire Asian American and immigrant community.
Dollar selling by exporters & banks, amid higher opening in domestic equity market supported rupee.
Against the backdrop of the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, the White House press secy said the United States was closely monitoring the current situation and supports its peaceful resolution.
"Militants operating out of Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to threaten Afghan stability as well as stoke tensions between Pakistan and India," Gen Votel said.
An influential American Senator has moved a Congressional amendment to strip all US aid to Pakistan, Egypt and Libya -- totalling about $4 billion per annum -- and divided the fund equally for veterans jobs bill and deficit reduction programme.
Pakistan has an "addiction" of "playing around" with militant groups against India, a top Pentagon official has said. "They have an addiction to playing around with militia groups to achieve certain interests, particularly vis-a-vis India. That gets them in all kinds of trouble," Michael Sheehan, assistant secretary of defence for special operations/low-intensity conflict, told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing.
A group of top United States lawmakers have urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to release Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi, who allegedly helped to track down Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Two top United Stastes lawmakers have questioned Pakistan's "duplicative role" in the war against terror, blaming Inter-Services Intelligence for aiding extremists, particularly against India, while criticising the Obama administration's lack of assertiveness against Islamabad on the issue.
While the consensus seemingly among Barack Obama administration and US congressional lawmakers and several policy wonks who deal with South Asia at leading think tanks is that Pakistan meets all of the criteria to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, opinion is mixed among security experts if it would serve any purpose or be counter-productive.
The Communist Party of India Marxist on Saturday raised questions about the alleged presence of American Special Forces in India. The party pointed out that Commander of the US Pacific Command Admiral Robert Willard had stated at a Congressional hearing that American Special forces assist teams are stationed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. But the ministry of external affairs and the ministry of defence have both denied his claims.
MH-60 Romeo Seahawks would add lethal capabilities of the Indian Navy, which experts say is the need of the hour given the aggressive behaviour of China in the Indian Ocean region.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned Pakistan of "damaging consequences" over multi-billion gas pipeline with Iran, saying Islamabad could face sanctions if it went ahead with the ambitious project.
Pakistan is a "haven" for several Islamist terror groups and successive Pakistani governments are widely believed to have supported some outfits as proxies in the country's conflicts with its neighbours including India, a US Congressional research report has said.
US lawmaker recalls the sad irony of hearing news about the massacre of innocent Sikh worshippers in Wisconsin while he was on his way to address concerns of the community regarding hate crimes at a gurdwara in Walnut, California.
Pakistan is a 'haven' for several Islamist terror groups and successive Pakistani governments are widely believed to have supported some outfits.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said Islamabad wants to have "excellent relations with the United States" and said both countries along with Kabul need to be "on the same page" in efforts aimed at boosting national reconciliation and stability in war-torn Afghanistan.
India depends on Iran for 12 per cent of its 80 per cent of imports of crude.
Getting ready to travel to the United States on a fellowship, blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng spoke to American lawmakers for the second time in a week and gave a detailed account of his alleged persecution and that of his family by Chinese authorities.
Top Pentagon leaders have warned US lawmakers against including their "pet projects" in the annual defence budget, particularly at a time when it is struggling to save money in view of the tough economic environment.
The government on Monday said it has denied a recent assertion made by US Pacific Command Chief Admiral Robert Willard regarding the presence of United States special forces in India.
The move has left the Democrats fuming, asserting that the Pentagon didn't seek permission.
Acknowledging the "strain" in United States-Pakistan relationship, a top US intelligence official has said that the internal situation in Pakistan is "fraught" and will take some time to get back to normalcy.
The Indian Army, Apple, Nokia, RIM denied that they were involved in a conspiracy to spy on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Martin Luther King III, who is in India to trace his father Martin Luther King Junior's 'India Pilgrimage' 50 years ago, called on President Pratibha Patil on Monday.
Indian American Democrat Ro Khanna is still trailing against seven term incumbent Democrat Congressman Mike Honda in California's 17th Congressional District in the November 4 general election.
Gabbard is set to create history becoming the first Hindu ever to be elected to the US Congress in November, as there is virtually little opposition to her in a predominantly Democratic district.
The United States on Wednesday warned Pakistan of "damaging consequences" if it went ahead with the ambitious Iran-Pak gas pipeline, which would be against the global sanctions against Iran.
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has echoed under secretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman's belief that Indians and Americans should consider themselves fortunate and thankful to have a diplomat in the caliber of Nirupama Rao in Washington, DC.
The debate over Prime Minister Modi's nixed Congressional address continues. Aziz Haniffa has the scoop
Obviously having gotten the green light from the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi that if they lobby the Speaker to address a joint session of Congress, which he has not been able to do despite his three visits to the US, the Congressmen informed Paul Ryan that 'It is our understanding that if invited, the prime minister would accept.'
A Congressional advisory panel has urged the Obama administration to adopt tougher approach towards China given the "aggressive" and "assertive" nature of Beijing's economic and military power in recent years.
Describing the improved Indo-Pak relationship in the region "a real game changer," the US has expressed satisfaction over the progress being made by the two neighbours on improving their bilateral trade and commercial ties.
Putting Pakistan on notice, a Republican-majority Congressional panel has cleared a key bill that would slap strict restrictions on the United States aid to Islamabad for not doing enough in the war against terrorism.
