Washington DC, Aug. 20 -- Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, in an opinion piece on Newsweek, emphasised the need to treat India as "prized free and democratic partner" to counter China said that "scuttling 25 years of momentum" with New Delhi would be a "strategic disaster."

Nikki Haley called a strong partnership between India and China a "no-brainer" emphasising that the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world, "unlike Communist-controlled China."

"India must be treated like the prized free and democratic partner that it is--not an adversary like China, which has thus far avoided sanctions for its Russian oil purchases, despite being one of Moscow's largest customers. If that disparity does no...