Indo-US talks on N-ties ends on positive note

New Delhi, June 14: The three-day India-US talks on Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement ended here today on a positive note.

''The talks ended on a positive and constructive note,'' official sources said.

Both sides, however, refused to divulge the details of the talks held between the officials of the two countries.

The officials will now brief their respective governments on the nature of the talks.

The Indian team at the talks was led by Mr S Jaishankar, Joint Secretary (US, Canada) in the External Affairs Ministry, while Mr Richard Stratfor, Director of the Department of Energy, headed the US delegation.

The Indian team also included officials from the Department of Atomic Energy, while the US side consisted of representatives from the State Department and the Bureau of Security and Non-proliferation.

The talks were held against the backdrop of attempts being made by several US Congressmen to link the bilateral agreement with the Civil Nuclear Agreement and have them voted together.

The US wants India to commit to maintain a moratorium on nuclear testing and strict adherence to export controls of sensitive nuclear technology.

Washington wanted this clause to be part of the bilateral agreement for a formal US-India nuclear cooperation deal.

But India, which has declared a unilateral moratorium, has already made it clear that it will not legally commit to it.

UNI

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