Washington, September 20, 2005 (PTI)

A new organization called the US-India League has been formed by a group of leading American conservatives to draw the US, India and Israel closer in their objectives of fighting terrorism and setting an example of progress through democracy.

At its first meeting on Monday leading conservatives who spoke, including Don Feser, executive director, and Alan Keyes, a former Ambassador, emphasised that while India, the US and Israel may not agree on all issues, they are united in facing the most important challenges facing the world today.

On US-India relations, the League said in a mission statement it is a foreign and defence policy educational organisation dedicated to building awareness of the shared democratic ideals of the two countries and to promoting a strong, bilateral, strategic relationship as the anchor for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Its Board of Advisors include Paul Weyrich (Free Congress Foundation), Gary Bauer (American Values), David Horowitz (Centre for the Study of Popular Culture) among others.

The League expects to send a delegation of 40 to India in 2006.