Foreign direct investment in the retail sector was one of the wish list of the US companies and the US had been pushing for it for quite some time now.
Describing India's non-proliferation record as "solid", the United States has asked all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint regarding their atomic capabilities.
The United States has welcomed the decision of the Parliament to allow Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail, noting that this is a win-win for all from small businesses to farmers and consumers as well; besides deepening economic co-operation between the two countries.
"We believe our assistance to Pakistan still continues to provide dividends for the American people in trying to grow and strengthen Pakistan's democratic institutions, boost its economy," said spokesman Mark Toner.
The United States has welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's statement that he would like to rebuild relationship with the US following deterioration in bilateral ties after the recent NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in a cross-border fire.
The United States has said that it is willing to address all the concerns of Pakistan and find a middle ground to take forward their important and crucial relationship.
The United States Department of State on Wednesday defended its travel warning for India, arguing that there is a propensity for terrorism during the Diwali season, and that this is a concern that New Delhi itself had acknowledged going from past experience.
The United States has regretted the inconvenience caused to high level Indian diplomats due to screenings at its airports, but said it is committed to meet security standards.
US is putting in effort to reduce dependency on Iranian oil
Asserting that freedom of expression applies equally to the Internet as it does in the real world, the United States has said that it is in talks with Indian government over the regulatory mechanism on Internet. "We believe that freedom of expression applies equally to the Internet as it does in the real world," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news briefing when asked about the efforts of the Indian government to regulate/monitor content.
Khan was detained at a New York airport for over two hours by immigration officials after arriving from India in a private plane with Nita Ambani, to address students at Yale University in Washington.
"We have asked the Pakistani government to address those allegations in the past," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told media persons when asked about the alleged involvement of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Terming Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's scheduled visit to India as "very constructive", the United States has said it does not want any new strains in Indo-Pak ties over the $ 10 million bounty offered by it for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba founder Hafiz Saeed.
The United States on Friday condemned the terrorist attack in Pakistan and said that it will continue to stand with it in their joint struggle to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda and allied terrorist.
The United States has reminded Pakistan of its 'special' responsibility to bring perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to justice and asked it to do so 'urgently.'
The United States has asked for a collaborative diplomatic process on resolving the disputes related to the South China Sea, amid reports of the Chinese Navy confronting an Indian Navy vessel off the coast of Vietnam in late July.
The United States has not received any request for help from India on its investigations into the Mumbai serial blasts, a State Department official said. "My understanding is that we did offer assistance, but it has not been formally requested. If that changes, we'll let you know," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney had offered US assistance in the investigations of the July 13 Mumbai blasts that left 18 people dead.
Describing as "very constructive" the resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue, the United States has said it is important that the two countries continue cooperation on multiple fronts, including counter-terrorism.
"We have been very clear why this programme, particularly our Rewards for Justice programme, was put in place. We want to see this individual brought to justice," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told media persons.
United States would consider giving India further access to David Headley, who has pleaded guilty in the Mumbai terrorist attacks case, for questioning by its investigating agencies once New Delhi makes such a request, the state department has said.
The United States has refused to confirm the death of Harkatul Jihad al-Islami chief Ilyas Kashmiri in a recent drone strike in Pakistan's South Waziristan region.
The United States will consider giving Indian authorities access to David Headley for additional questioning by its investigating agencies about his role in the Mumbai terror attacks, the State Department has said. "In the past, we have given India full access to Headley, and I think that when a case is in litigation it's impossible to do that. But moving forward, I think we would consider further access," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not given clean chit to Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence over Osama bin Laden's presence in the country, her spokesman said on Saturday.
The Obama administration on Thursday said it announced a bounty of $ 10 million on Hafiz Saeed to bring him to justice as it was convinced that the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba founder had played a key role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
The United States underlined that $ 10 million bounty for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba founder Hafiz Seed is not about finding his location, but to seek information that can convict the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in a court of law.
"The Secretary does plan to visit Pakistan in order to have an in-depth strategic discussion about our cooperation and to convey the US government's views on the way forward for Pakistan," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told media persons.
Notwithstanding strains in ties with Pakistan over the Osama issue, the United States on Wednesday said it will continue to provide financial aid to Islamabad, pointing out that the country was still facing the scourge of terrorism.
The United States has sympathised with Krittika Biswas, daughter of an Indian diplomat who has sued New York City for illegally detaining her, but insisted that she did not enjoy any diplomatic immunity.
United States State Department spokesman Mark Toner's statement has been an encouraging one for Indian investigating agencies probing the David Headley case.
Ahead of the Chicago trial of the Mumbai attacks on May 16, the United States has said it was committed to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 terror strikes to justice.
The United States on Friday said the current situation in Kashmir was India's internal issue and asked protestors to conduct agitations in a peaceful manner.
The United States on Friday declined to comment on a WikiLeaks cable that sparked allegations that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government purchased the support of Members of Parliament to survive the trust vote over the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008. "I am not going to say if it (the cable) is classified or not, but certainly if it is classified, we wouldn't speak about it, and we are not going to speak about it in way, shape or form," said a spokesperson.
"Our longstanding position has always been that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from a normalisation of relations and practical cooperation, and so we would be encouraged that India and Pakistan continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions," the US said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has had "two conversations" over the "last two days" with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on this issue, even as India explores a range of diplomatic options to isolate Islamabad.
Despite being stuck in New Delhi's traffic and cancelling engagements due to heavy downpour, US Secretary of State John Kerry has had a "terrific" time in India over the last few days, his spokesperson has said.
In an apparent dissatisfaction over Pakistan's opposition to India becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the United States has said it is not about an arms race, but about civilian use of nuclear energy.
US refrained to make any comment on India's decision to not to attend the SAARC Summit in Islamabad.
The US also rejected 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's remarks that America and India have joined hands against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
US States Department spokesperson Mark Toner said he could not agree that nobody knew about human rights violations in PoK before Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the same.
No such decision has been taken either in the Indian Ocean or South China Sea.