India, US swap notes on sensitive tech flow

Key to broadening the scope of co-operation in the four areas of civil nuclear, civil space, high technology and missile defence, sources said, would be to ‘‘harmonise export control regimes.’’

This could entail changes in existing laws and procedures related to transfer of such technology for greater compatibility.

The two officials also head the NSSP Implementation Group and discussed ways to structure regular interaction. It’s learnt that the two sides covered much ground in trying to work out a mechanism to monitor implementation of the steps agreed in the first phase of the NSSP.

One key issue brought up by Washington was to set up a credible end-use verification mechanism to ensure that items exported by the US are used for the purpose they have been licensed for.

In this connection, the US has already decided to appoint a commerical attache in the US Embassy here. Part of his job, sources said, would entail undertaking perodic checks in consultation with Indian authorities. According to the MEA, the two sides made ‘‘substantial progress’’ at the talks and have agreed to meet again shortly. After her discussions, Rocca said the purpose was to initiate consultations on setting up a framework for the second phase and to ensure that the processes move as quickly as possible. ‘‘We have moved to a phase in Indo-US relations where many barriers that separated us over the last many years have come down,’’ she said.

It’s learnt that plans are afoot for US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to visit the region next month. He is likely to visit India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, plans are yet to be firmed up with dates still in the process of being worked out. Rocca also met Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia with whom she discussed the Indo-US economic relationship. Washington has considered the economic aspect as one of the weakest links in the bilateral relationship and this was emphasised during her meeting with Ahluwalia. US Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth Juster, who was here earlier in the month, also underlined the US interest in expanding the commercial relationship by facilitating increased participation by the private sector. He had emphasised that Srategic Partnership was conceived in manner that it links up with progress on the economic front.

The two sides had concluded the first phase of the NSSP last month which saw the removal of ISRO from the banned entities list and this was welcomed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush when they met on the margins of the UNGA at New York. The two leaders also directed setting up the NSSP Implementation Group.