The Communist Party of India � Marxist on Thursday vowed to oppose a strategic alliance between India and the United States, stating such a move is aimed at countering China.

''We shall not rest in our fight till the strategic ties with the US is snapped out,'' Karat said at a CPI(M)-sponsored programme in Kolkata to celebrate the October Revolution.

He said the US was trying to make India its strategic ally in countering China, which is "the most powerful socialist country capable of challenging the might of the USA".

''USA has also changed its tactics of making Pakistan its strategic ally as it has now realised that if it can get India as a strategic ally, the balance will be tilted in favour of imperialism and neo-colonialism'', he said.

Karat said that the people of India would fight against imperialism ''and will not accept the design to convert us as a subordinate ally of the US''.

The strategic document of the US administration recognised China as a major threat to the US hegemony, Karat said.

India, with its potential for development, ''is preferred as an ideal ally of the US. If it can get India as its ally, it can be a big game for the imperialists'', the CPI(M) leader said.

''India is a prize for the US and not Pakistan because of its market. Developed India can be useful for counter-balancing China. This is a game the US is trying to play which has to be foiled'', he said.

The CPI-M general secretary said Latin American and socialist countries were looking to India for the fight against imperialism as India had a past record of fighting colonialism during the Independence movement.

''When the Bush administration is threatening Iran with the Third World war for its challenge against the US might, the Indian government remained silent and that is surprising,'' he said.

The ruling class in India, said Karat, believed that there would be development if India was on the right side of the USA.

''West Bengal is the advanced post for the fight against imperialism and in the coming days, it will continue to put up its resistance", he said.