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India and US to expand co-operation
New Delhi, Mar 16: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said that India and US have agreed on a line of approach to `energetically and expeditiously` follow up on expanding co-operation on four key areas.
New Delhi, Mar 16: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has said that India and US have agreed on a line of approach to "energetically and expeditiously" follow up on expanding co-operation on four key areas.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Sinha said that the two countries have agreed to take concrete steps in expanding co-operation in civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programmes and high technology trade, besides expanding dialogue on missile defence -- a move initiated by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Bush in January.
He also added that over the next month, officials from the two sides would hold discussions and evolve a clear roadmap with milestones for enhancing and strengthening the economic engagement between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell on his part, has stressed that Washington will not be satisfied till the entire clandestine network headed by Pakistan scientist AQ Khan has been completely dismantled.
The United States has also made clear that it has taken no decision to sell sophisticated F-16 warplanes to Islamabad.
Powell observed that there has been loss of jobs in the US in the wake of outsourcing. But added that with globalisation this kind of dislocation is to be expected.
Experts say Powell's visit is a sign that Indo-US ties have reached a level of maturity, which is no longer tied down by factors like Indo-Pak relations.
But the US Secretary of State's current visit is in the backdrop of very different circumstances.
Two years ago he came trying to get India and Pakistan to withdraw troops and talk. Now India and Pakistan are talking peace, and US President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee have committed themselves to a new strategic partnership.
Washington is keen to have New Delhi on board as an ally to tackle burning issues like global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. And it seems the pressure is already building on Pakistan. The United States, which launched a fresh offensive against the Al-Qaida and Taliban in the Pak-Afghan border, says it is getting impatient with Islamabad's unwillingness to do more on infiltration. Bureau Report
Addressing the press after the meeting, Sinha said that the two countries have agreed to take concrete steps in expanding co-operation in civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programmes and high technology trade, besides expanding dialogue on missile defence -- a move initiated by Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Bush in January.
He also added that over the next month, officials from the two sides would hold discussions and evolve a clear roadmap with milestones for enhancing and strengthening the economic engagement between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell on his part, has stressed that Washington will not be satisfied till the entire clandestine network headed by Pakistan scientist AQ Khan has been completely dismantled.
The United States has also made clear that it has taken no decision to sell sophisticated F-16 warplanes to Islamabad.
Powell observed that there has been loss of jobs in the US in the wake of outsourcing. But added that with globalisation this kind of dislocation is to be expected.
Experts say Powell's visit is a sign that Indo-US ties have reached a level of maturity, which is no longer tied down by factors like Indo-Pak relations.
But the US Secretary of State's current visit is in the backdrop of very different circumstances.
Two years ago he came trying to get India and Pakistan to withdraw troops and talk. Now India and Pakistan are talking peace, and US President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee have committed themselves to a new strategic partnership.
Washington is keen to have New Delhi on board as an ally to tackle burning issues like global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. And it seems the pressure is already building on Pakistan. The United States, which launched a fresh offensive against the Al-Qaida and Taliban in the Pak-Afghan border, says it is getting impatient with Islamabad's unwillingness to do more on infiltration. Bureau Report