Energy, strategic talks next step in ties

The hope here is that it will take the discussion on civilian nuclear cooperation beyond the NSSP where interaction was limited to aspects that fall outside the reactor like transmission and other ancilliary technology..

This, for New Delhi, indicates a break from the past because it provides for the first time a forum for both sides to discuss and address constraints that Washington faces on account of being part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Nuclear energy, India made it clear to the US, was an important element of its strategy to meet energy requirements in the future.

Having expressed its concerns over India exploring the possibility of a gas pipeline from Iran, Washington felt an energy dialogue will lay the basis for a more sustained cooperation between both countries in the energy sector.

India had conveyed to the US last year that it was a growing economy with vast energy requirements and that it would pursue all means to gain access to these resources by way of pipelines or through new technologies.

At the meetings today, the US also indicated it was inclined to grant licences to its companies for joint production of military hardware with India. To facilitate this, both sides have agreed to upgrade their current engagement in defence cooperation to a strategic dialogue that will locate all cooperation in the context of shared global and regional security perceptions.

The sale of F-16s to Pakistan did figure in the discussions and Rice is said to have conveyed that there will be no announcement on this during her visit.

‘‘There has been no such agreement and, as I have said, I do not expect that there are going to be announcements out of this,’’ said Rice at a joint media interaction after her talks with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh.

New Delhi also sensed a shift in US position on the issue of Indian membership to the UN Security Council. While Rice maintained that Washington was still in discussion with other countries on UN reforms, she said the world was changing and countries like India had emerged in recent years as ‘‘major factors’’ in international economy and politics.

Making a reference to India’s response to the tsunami disaster in the context of UNSC membership, she said: ‘‘India was able, I am told, to mobilise its ships and go to sea in 48 hours. That is extraordinary and that shows India’s potential is very great to help resolve humanitarian and other needs of the world.’’

The US acknowledgement of Indian abilities to handle global responsibilities was also conveyed by Rice to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. She also invited him on behalf of US President George W Bush to visit the US in July. An invite was earlier extended to Natwar, who is expected to visit Washington sometime next month.

In the intervening period, a senior US embassy official said, both countries will work on elements of the strategic dialogue and look to conclude NSSP-II. The official added that Bush may visit India later this year or ‘‘first thing’’ next year.

It’s learnt that the NSSP-II will reach conclusion once India puts in place a stricter legislation on export controls related to sensitive tecchnology and equipment. Work on this is already underway.