New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) India and the US Thursday held talks to expand security cooperation and discussed a host of global issues, including the situation in the AfPak region and the UN reforms, key issues that will be on table during US President Barack Obama’s visit in November.
US National Security Adviser James Jones wrapped up his two-day visit here, aimed at firming up deliverables for Obama’s state visit in November.
A day after his talks with his Indian counterpart Shivshankar Menon that focused on the easing of high-tech exports, Jones met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee. He also called on Bharatiya Janata Party’s Arun Jaitley, the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Jones had called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday.
Chidamabaram and Jones discussed prospects of structured interaction between key security personnel of the two countries.
They also explored ways to further expand counter-terror cooperation and the security threat that emanates from the fragile Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
Jones’ meetings with Antony and Naik were significant as lobbying intensifies for the lucrative Indian Air Force contract for buying 126 fighter jets estimated to be around $10 billion.
New Delhi described the talks as ‘positive, constructive and forward looking’.
During the visit the two sides reviewed the status of the strategic partnership between India and the US, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement Thursday.
They discussed preparations for the state visit of Obama to India later this year, the PMO said.
Jones expressed ‘his hope that the visit will be a demonstration of the strong cooperation and enduring partnership between the United States and India’, a statement issued by Deputy National Security Council spokesman Ben Chang said.
It added that Jones’ ‘successful visit also served to reinforce the strategic partnership between our two countries – defined by a foundation of common principles and values’.
The visit sought ‘to map out further those areas in which mutual cooperation can lead to greater prosperity, security, and progress for both our countries and the world’, it said.
Apart from bilateral relations, regional and global issues, including the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, international terrorism, the global governance architecture and emerging threats to international security were also discussed, the PMO said.
The visit saw India making a renewed push for the easing of exports of dual use technologies, widely seen in India as a potential deliverable during Obama’s maiden visit here in November. The two sides also reviewed steps that remain to be comopleted to implement their nuclear deal.
Two years after India and the US signed a landmark nuclear deal in October 2008, India is upset that many Indian private and public sector entities continue to face technology sanctions. The Indian side is expecting a positive movement on this issue ahead of Obama’s visit.
The Indian side conveyed its concerns over the fluid situation in Afghanistan against the backdrop of reports of Pakistan influencing a power-sharing deal with Taliban elements who are inimical to India’s interests.
