Just when India's new Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that India will be ready to carry out more surgical strikes if needed against terror launchpads in PoK, the United States (US) has supported India's right to defend itself.

For the first time since the surgical strikes were carried out by India following the Uri terror attacks, US has spoken out calling India's response a calibrated and responsible one.

A key member of Barack Obama's diplomatic team, Nisha Biswal said that India should act when it is needed to defend its people but also prevent escalation. The US Assistant Secretary of State spoke exclusively to India Today.

US DEMANDS ACTION AGAINST HAFIZ SAEED

United States has demanded action against Hafiz Saeed and the terror groups in Pakistan. The outgoing US Assistant Secretary of State clarified that the US justice department placing a bounty for evidence against Hafiz Saeed followed a clear understanding of his role in the Mumbai attack.

Also read: US diplomat Nisha Desai Biswal to visit India for talks

Biswal stressed that action needs to be taken against Hafiz and others and the incoming Trump administration will continue to ask Pakistan to do the same.

"US DISAPPOINTED WITH BEIJING'S MOVE"

United States has also spoken out on China blocking India's move to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. In an exclusive conversation before she leaves office, Nisha Biswal, Obama's top appointee in the State Department said US is very disappointed with Beijing's move.

China had initially put India's resolution at the Security Council's 1267 committee on technical hold. And later despite support of other co-sponsors like US,UK to the resolution, China used its veto to block the move on December 30 last year.

Also read: China stops India's bid to blacklist JeM chief Masood Azhar, yet again

Watch: India gave a calibrated response: US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal on surgical strikes