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"Progress" reported in Indo-US talks

The United States today made it clear that it wanted India to adhere to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, even as External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott reported progress on the second day of their eighth round of talks on security-related issues.

Speaking on Perspectives in Indo-US Relations at the Indian International Centre, Talbott said both India and the US ''very strongly disagree'' on the issue of the former country developing a nuclear deterrent with Washington holding the view that the NPT was the only hope for humanity.

Earlier in the morning, Talbott and Singh held talks for the second day for two-and-a-half hours after which they announced they had made progress and, therefore, had decided to extend their discussions till tomorrow.

The two sides had an expert-level meeting, followed by a one-on-one meeting between Singh and Talbott. Both delegations met after that.

In his speech, Talbott said it was in the strategic self-interest of the US to see a secure India, a more economically vibrant India and, of course, a better relationship between the two countries.

He insisted that the nuclear issue was a'' complicating factor'' but not necessarily a contradictory one, adding, ''We are trying to harmonise India's interests, convictions and perceptions with those of the US."

The US official said the differences on India deploying a nuclear deterrent and not adhering to the NPT might give the impression that there was a deadlock but US President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not accept such a "fatalistic conclusion".

He said the two leaders were "counting on Jaswant Singh and me to prove that India and the US can overcome our differences and build on the common ground between us".

Talbott said he was hopeful but not certain that "we will fulfil the charge we have been given".

He said the ongoing Indo-US dialogue was not about winning or losing, it was aimed at a "win-win" outcome. He denied that the US proposed to dictate terms to India and stressed that the Clinton administration fully respected India's sovereignty.

He emphasised that the US approach was predicated on finding a way satisfactory to both parties.

Stating that Indo-US relations had never been what they should be or what they could be, Talbott said, "America and India should be natural partners, but all too often, history, circumstance and incompatibilities of perspective seemed to have kept us from being so".

Talbott's positive statements about India came a day after Clinton and Vajpayee spoke on telephone for 15 minutes, reviewing the relations between the two countries and affirming their desire to strengthen them.

Jaswant Singh will hold another round of discussions with Talbott tomorrow. Before the US leader leaves New Delhi on Monday for Islamabad, he will call on the prime minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister I K Gujral.

UNI

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