'Don't Let International Crisis Overshadow Indo-U.S. Ties'

Curtis said the Obama Administration should coordinate on strategies to counter terrorist movements in South Asia, especially in Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO forces draw down.

"Given al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri's recent pledge to launch a South Asia wing and the Islamic State gaining ground in Iraq, the imperative for close U.S.-India counter-terrorism cooperation has never been stronger," she said.

"Obama and Modi must coordinate their responses to these brewing threats and seek ways to cooperate in preventing the Taliban from staging a comeback in Afghanistan," Curtis said.

She said the U.S. should manage expectations on visit outcomes to avoid a sense of disappointment.

"In the past, the relationship has suffered from each side having overly optimistic expectations of what the other side can deliver to solidify ties."

"For this reason, initiatives like the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative aimed at breaking down bureaucratic obstacles to defense cooperation are particularly important, but these initiatives also require patience and persistence and take time to bear fruit," Curtis argued.

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