Implementation of the landmark civil nuclear deal and terrorism emanating from Pakistan will be high on the agenda of talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama in Washington tomorrow. The two countries will sign a number of pacts, including an MoU on Counter-Terrorism to provide a legal framework for stepped up cooperation against the menace, and discuss the problem of climate change ahead of the Copenhagen Summit.Both the leaders are expected to exchange views on a range of issues, including terrorism, situation in the South Asian region, economic and business ties, agriculture and education. Dr Singh, the first foreign leader to be hosted by the 10-month-old Obama Administration as the State Guest, arrived in Washington on a four-day visit during which he will address the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Joint Business Forum besides meeting Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Speaker of House of Representatives Nancy Pellosi and a host of other senior leaders.Ahead of tomorrow's crucial meeting, sources said, the Prime Minister is expected to register India's concerns over diversion of US aid by Pakistan and press for ensuring accountability to prevent misuse of funds and equipment. He is also expected to convey India's disappointment over non-cooperation by Pakistan in Mumbai attacks, whose first anniversary falls on Thursday. New Delhi wants Washington to pressurise Pakistan to do more on bringing the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice and dismantle terror infrastructure completely. With regard to the implementation of the civil nuclear deal inked last year, officials of the two countries are racing against time to conclude negotiations on setting up of Dedicated Reprocessing Facility in India. For implementation of the nuclear deal, it is a key step along with enactment of legislation on Liabilities and an assurance from India on non-proliferation, which is required for the US government to give licenses to companies for trade with India. Prime Minister is also likely to seek a more liberal US technology transfer regime for India.
News On AIR | November 23, 2009 2:12 PM
Nuke deal, terror high on PM agenda