India's Foreign Minister slams 'unacceptable' surveillance by the US

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) greets Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on July 31, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) greets Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on July 31, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India's Foreign Minister told her visiting counterpart John Kerry on Thursday that United States surveillance of an ally was "unacceptable" following allegations that Washington's National Security Agency targeted the ruling party.

"I raised this issue and even told them that when the news came out in the Indian media, people were angry," Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a joint press conference with Mr Kerry. "I also told them that if we consider each other friendly countries, it is unacceptable that a friendly country spies on other friendly nations."

A classified document made public by the Washington Post earlier this month showed that India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was among authorised targets for the NSA in 2010 while it was in opposition.

The revelations prompted India to summon the top diplomat from the American embassy to register a protest. The previous Congress government also complained to the US twice last year over other surveillance revelations, including the disclosure that its UN mission in New York and its Washington embassy were snooped on.

Mr Kerry told reporters that he could not comment about specific allegations but he insisted that US President Barack Obama had made "unprecedented" efforts to ensure better oversight of intelligence.

"We have a policy in the United States with respect to intelligence matters, we do not discuss intelligence matters in public," he said.

"But let me just say very clearly: we value our relationship with India... and we also value the sharing of information between each other regarding counter-terrorism and other threats to both of our countries.

"We've had conversations, as the minister as stated, with government officials about these reports, and usually we try to have our intelligence communities work to resolve any questions or differences that may exist."

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