US lawmakers hail Indian diaspora's role in pushing ties

WASHINGTON: Two leading Republican lawmakers have expressed happiness over the growing momentum in India-US relations and the role of the Indian diaspora in building an important cultural bridge between the two countries.Mac Thornberry, vice chairman of the house armed services committee, and Devin Nunes a member of an intelligence panel, hailing from California, which has a large Indian community presence, conveyed these sentiments at a meeting with Indian Ambassador to US, Nirupama Rao.During the meeting on Tuesday, Rao exchanged views with Thornberry and Nunes on bilateral relations and regional and global issue of common interest, the Indian embassy said.They expressed happiness over the growing momentum in India-US relations based on shared democratic values and converging interests.Thornberry highlighted growing cooperation between the two countries in the field of counter-terrorism and expressed interest in enhancing engagement with India in the field of cyber-security.Nunes referred to the rapidly growing trade and economic engagement between India and the US and the role of the Indian diaspora in the US in building an important cultural bridge between the two countries.Rao said she looked forward to an early visit by the two Congressmen to India.