Joint statement to name LeT,call for dismantling Pak terror infrastructure

This is seen as a major improvement from the language in last year’s joint statement,when Singh visited Washington,which called for “defeat of terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and Afghanistan” but only in the context of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

While the text of the joint statement can undergo many changes as negotiations are still continuing,sources said, both sides will reaffirm through the communique that perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attack be also brought to justice.

On the question of China,negotiators on both sides are not keen on making any direct reference but there is likely to be clear statement that the US views India as a “power in East Asia.” Significantly,for the first time,India and the US will agree to launch a dialogue on global commons—air,sea,space and cyberspace—with an intent to develop a “shared vision” in these critical domains.

The US,which has dominated control over these global commons,has recently identified China as its principal challenger.

The two sides will agree to launch joint projects in Afghanistan and Africa. The US,in fact,is very keen to identify specific areas in Afghanistan even though sections of South Block are a bit concerned over the fallout of doing projects together in Afghanistan.

Many of the other elements in the joint statement,sources said,are still under negotiations which are expected to go down to the wire. Expectations have reduced on getting a clear endorsement from the US on India’s candidature for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council but there is word that Obama may make a more positive statement on the issue while addressing the joint session of Parliament.

The removal of Indian entities from the US entities list is still stuck on organisations belonging to the Department of Atomic Energy. With the Cabinet Committee on Security not giving the green signal to additional end-use verification assurances in the form of a bilateral document,it’s understood that Indian negotiators have urged the US to reconsider its demand.

Similarly,the US is very keen on going through with the long-pending Commercial Space Launch Agreement but apparently there have been last-minute objections to certain provisions which are being seen as “intrusive.”

Meanwhile,the US will commit to help India become part of the Nuclear Suppliers Group,Missile Technology Control Regime,the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. India has conveyed that while it is eligible for the last two,US will have to “evolve a consensus” to grant exception for India’s entry as it does not fulfill prerequisite of being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.