New Delhi
30 May 2010
The inaugural India-US strategic dialogue at the level of their foreign ministers,
to be held in Washington on Thursday, will lay the ground for US President Barack
Obama's visit to India later this year. It will cover bilateral issues such as export
controls, education, energy, climate change and counterterrorism. External affairs
minister SM Krishna and her American counterpart Hillary Clinton will also discuss a
host of regional and global issues.
Robert Blake, the US assistant secretary for south and central asian affairs, has said in
Washington that in terms of the region, the most important focus would be Afghanistan
as it was "a very, very high priority for both of our countries", followed by Pakistan and,
possibly, Iran.
Specifically, the Indian side would be keen to tie up loose ends so that it gets direct
access to 26/11 plotter David Coleman Headley.
However, Blake was evasive. He said in Washington that it was for the Department of
Justice to comment on whether the US will give India access to Headley.
The Americans, in turn, would be looking to hear about the the nuclear liability legislation
and the proposed foreign education bill that will allow foreign direct investment in the
Indian education sector. When passed by Parliament, the nuclear liability legislation will
make it possible for American companies to enter into commercial contracts for the
setting up of nuclear power plants in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
"... we're not frustrated. We think that this - we trust Prime Minister Singh's judgment on
this. And our main interest is in making sure that the legislation that is passed is
compliant with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation," Blake said when
asked about the delay by India in getting the nuclear liability legislation passed.
Human resource develoment minister Kapil Sibal, deputy chairman of planning
commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and minister of state of science and technology
Prithviraj Chavan would join Mr Krishna for the strategic dialogue. Foreign secretary
Nirupama Rao, department of biotechnology secretary MK Bhan, special secretary
(internal security) UK Bansal from the home ministry, and joint secretary (americas)
Gaitri Kumar from the external affairs ministry would also be a part of the Indian
delegation. Mr Ahluwalia is the co-chair of the dialogues on economy, agriculture and
energy. Mr Sibal will co-chair the dialogue on education.
The India-US strategic dialogue will take place after the US has held similar dialogues
with China and Pakistan.
// Box //
SM Krishna's engagements
June 2:
External affairs minister SM Krishna to address the US-India Business Council; Foreign
Secretary Nirupama Rao to meet her American counterpart, Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs William Burns, for a wide-ranging foreign policy dialogue that is
expected to cover Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, West Asia and China
June 3:
Plenary session of India-US strategic dialogue, co-chaired by Mr Krishna and US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, followed by a discussion over lunch. Later in the day,
Ms Clinton will host a reception for the Indian delegation. US President Barack Obama
plans to drive down from the White House to the US State Department for the reception
No comments:
Post a Comment