NEW DELHI (AFP) — India congratulated Barack Obama Wednesday on what Premier Manmohan Singh called his "extraordinary" election victory, while the ruling Congress party praised the US president-elect's "youthful energy."
"Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world," the prime minister said.
"We have strong ties between our people and I look forward to working with you to realise the enormous potential for cooperation that exists between India and the US," he added.
India, which leaned towards Moscow during the Cold War, re-oriented its foreign policy after the collapse of the former Soviet Union to pursue closer ties with Washington.
The mutual rapprochement culminated in the signing last month of a landmark civilian nuclear deal, pushed through by Singh and outgoing President George W. Bush.
Singh said future India-US cooperation would be an "important factor" for world peace, stability and progress, and invited Obama to visit India at the earliest opportunity.
The prime minister's Congress party also welcomed Obama's historic victory over Republican Senator John McCain.
"Obama represents youthful energy, exuberant dynamism and a forward-looking progressive mindset which is also the spirit animating India," said party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Adding its voice to the chorus of approval was India's main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We congratulate Barack Obama for being elected as the 44th president of the US," said BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. "We look forward to an illustrious tenure and hope that he will fulfil his election promise of warm relations with India."
In Indian Kashmir, separatist leaders also welcomed Obama's triumph, hoping the president-elect would live up to pre-election comments that he would seek an active US role in resolving India's decades-old dispute with Pakistan over the region.
"The encouraging statements of Obama during his campaigning have generated a hope that he will use his good offices to resolve the Kashmir issue," said moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.
India has always rejected any third-party involvement in Muslim-majority Kashmir, while Pakistan has encouraged US participation.
Another moderate separatist leader, Moulvi Abbass Ansari, said Obama "definitely has a role to play" in seeking an end to the dispute which has triggered two wars between India and Pakistan.
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