American foreign policy is a big puzzle: Ex-CIA officer James Lawler

The United States must build a much stronger relationship with India, calling the interests of both countries "compatible" despite turbulence in ties in the past, according to James C Lawler, a celebrated former CIA officer and former head of the agency's Counter-Proliferation Division.

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In an interview with ANI, Lawler said he has never fully understood why India and the United States were "never adversaries but never true friends" even though they shared several common interests and values. He said, "I think sometimes American foreign policy is a big puzzle. What I am hopeful for is that the United States needs a much stronger relationship with India. Most of our interests are convergent. We have vibrant economies. A lot of ethnic Indians are among our brightest people here in America."

Lawler said the two countries share democratic frameworks and similar economic aspirations should not be "standoffish". "You're a democracy. We're a democracy. You've gotten away from more socialistic policies into more capitalism. I think we could be much stronger working together than standoffish," he said. He also said he hoped to visit India one day, noting, "I've never been to India. I'd love to go sometime."