Obama Vows to Work with Modi 'For Years to Come'

WASHINGTON: The U.S. came full circle as after shunning Narendra Modi for over a decade, President Barack Obama vowed to work closely together with the new Indian prime minister "for years to come".

"We look forward to working closely together with the new government to continue to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India strategic partnership for years to come," the White House said in a message of congratulations from Obama.

As the two leaders "agreed in their call after the election, as the world's two largest democracies, India and the U.S. share a deep bond and commitment to promoting economic opportunity, freedom, and security for our people and around the world", it said.

Obama was quick to acknowledge Modi's "resounding" victory in the Indian election and effectively ended the visa ban on him for his alleged role or inaction during the 2002 Gujarat riots with an invitation to visit Washington.

Secretary of State John Kerry echoed the invitation a couple of days later.

Since then, other U.S. officials including Washington's first Indian-American point person for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal have voiced U.S. keenness to engage Modi.

"The president stated definitely that we will be welcoming Prime Minister Modi," the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South Central Asia told reporters last week.

"We recognize the Indian electorate has weighed in with a resounding mandate for Prime Minister Modi and we want to work with him for advancing his goals for India as a regional and global player," she said.