Even before US president Barack Obama concluded his India visit on Tuesday morning, foreign policy watchers were assessing the significance of a new paradigm in Indo-US relations, as read from his speeches here.

Contrary to expectations of the Democratic party defeat in the US Congress elections on the eve of his trip and to that of a lean Diwali hamper for India from the US, Obama did speak out strongly on several issues that could only bolster the relations between the two countries - a strong message to Pakistan, US support for India's bid for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat, end of high tech sanctions to India and logical conclusion to the Indo-US nuclear deal or even removing doubts on outsourcing.

"That is why I can say today in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member," Obama said in his speech in Parliament, saving the best for the last.

Obama said the US would continue to insist to Pakistan's leaders that "terrorist safe heavens within their borders are unacceptable and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attack should be brought to justice."

He also maintained a posture on Kashmir that India would find far more palatable than one that previous heads of state have stuck with.

By insisting that US could not impose a solution on Kashmir, but could offer any role acceptable to both India and Pakistan, the US president has made it clear for Pakistani leaders that the present US government will not be intervening in the issue - contrary to what Pakistani leadership has been since long wishing for.

New Delhi was also got what it had wanted since a long time - the high-tech sanctions tto be lifted that had been imposed in the immediate aftermath of the 1998 nuclear tests in Pokhran.

“Commensurate with India’s nonproliferation record and commitment to abide by multilateral export control standards, these steps include the United States removing Indian entities from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Entity List” and realignment of India in U.S. export control regulations,” the joint statement said.

It can be only assumed now that with the removal of Indian companies from the “entities list”, the Indo-US nuclear deal reaches to a logical conclusion.

The joint statement of both countries also said, “In addition, the United States intends to support India’s full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes (Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group, and Wassenaar Arrangement) in a phased manner.” The step will only embolden nuclear commerce with countries like Japan who have been hesitant on New Delhi on such moves.

Both countries, however, have also signed six deals in areas of energy, health and agriculture.

But on climate change, there was no assurance from Washington’s side. The UN climate change meet will be held from November 29 to December 10 in Cancun, Mexico. New Delhi has always insisted that rich nations should act to cut emission rather than imposing on the developing countries. Next month is very crucial testing the relationship on this count.  

Obama did speak on outsourcing after prime minister sought to assuage US concerns over the issue.

Singh said, “As far as India is concerned, India is not in the business of stealing jobs from the US,” to which US President responded, "...I want to be able to say they (India) actually created 50,000 jobs and that's why we should not be resorting to protectionist measures." 

But, Obama shied away from the Bhopal gas tragedy and Dow Chemicals' culpability in the matter.

Obama also saw a new India during his trip. He said several times, "Given that India is not simply an emerging power but now it is a world power, US and India can work together to promote international principles, rules, relations between nations they can promote peace, stability, prosperity not only for just two nations but for the whole world." 

Also, by muttering few words in Hindi like bahut dhanyavad to Jai Hind and talking to residents of Kanpura, an obscure village in Rajasthan through video-conferencing, he directly struck chord with common Indians.

It is a new bonhomie between the world’s largest and oldest democracies of the world. Many foreign experts would definitely say that the glass is now three-quarter full, but can we say that India and the US are the new allies of the twenty first century?