India needs good relations with US: American Intel chief

India needs to maintain "good relations" with the US to realise its ambitions of becoming a major world power, a top Obama administration intelligence official has said, while acknowledging that New Delhi is likely to continue to chart an independent course.

Putting India on par with China and ranking the two as the emerging powers of the world, Dennis C Blair, director of National Intelligence in his annual threat assessment report said India's expanding economy like that of China, will lead New Delhi to pursue new trade partners, gain access to vital energy markets and generate other resources required to sustain rapid economic growth.

To sustain rapid growth, Indian governments also must maintain the political support for economic reforms needed to drive the expanding economy, Blair said in his prepared statement before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

On the global stage, Blair said, the Indian leaders will continue to follow an independent course characterised by economic and political pragmatism.

New Delhi, he said, will not automatically support or oppose positions favoured by the US or any other major power.

"Nonetheless, good relations with the United States will be essential for India to realise its global ambitions," Blair
said.