PM discusses US agenda with BJP leaders

While in favour of strengthening Indo-US relations, sources said, the BJP’s concerns have been that the relationship must not appear to be a counter to China. The BJP was also disappointed at not being informed in advance about the new framework agreement on defence ties that was signed during Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit last month.

The Prime Minister will reach Washington on Sunday and his meeting with US President George W Bush is the next day. Singh will also address a joint session of the US Congress besides his interactions with the Indian community in the US.

While the PM prepares for his visit, indications from Washington are that the time has still not come for it to support a resolution like the one being proposed by G-4 for the expansion of the UN Security Council. This, sources said, is prompted by the scepticism in the US Congress over UN functioning.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, however, is not discouraged by these developments given that India meets the criteria outlined by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns for a country that Washington will support other than Japan to an expanded UNSC.

According to him, the US views are in line with the stand it has taken but also pointed out that the criteria outlined by Burns were not different to the underlying principles of the G-4 resolution for UNSC expansion.

‘‘If the US has decided to oppose the G-4 resolution, there is not much we can do about it… Whether or not we go ahead with the resolution will again be based on the assessment that we will take along with our partners as also our African brothers and sisters ,’’ he said ahead of the PM’s visit.

On the bilateral front, both sides are expected to come out with an umbrella statement that will outline the initiatives in agriculture, in health to combat HIV/AIDS and in business through the formation of a high profile CEOs Forum that will hold its first meeting on Monday. The Prime Minister, in fact, will meeting the 10 Indian CEOs on Thursday.

India hopes to record some forward movement on cooperation in civilian nuclear energy. Saran said India was looking at this issue as a ‘‘process’’. He said major changes had already taken place in the US approach to issue which have also been prompted by the global energy situation which has become increasingly challenging.

The Indian effort, he said, will be to take this cooperation from ‘‘dialogue to action’’ and would, thus, look for an affirmation at the highest political level.

On global issues, India and the US will commit to spreading democracy and express solidarity in the fight against terror. India also announced its intent to contribute to the US-backed proposal for a global fund on democracy under the UN.