India, US NSAs meet to discuss Obama visit

In the first preparatory meeting for the November visit of President Barack Obama, India and the US discussed ways to push their ties to match the potential and expectations of the two countries.

During the meeting between National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and his US counterpart James Jones in New Delhi, the two sides are also understood to have exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the context of terrorism emanating from there. Jones also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He is expected to meet Defence Minister A K Antony and Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday before winding up his two-day visit.

Menon and Jones discussed ways to take their relations further in a wide range of areas including fight against terror, defence, security, trade, science and technology, agriculture and education. Relations between the two countries have been growing in a wide range of issues. However, there are still some issues like US restrictions on dual-use

items which India wants to be eased. The meeting was a preparatory one for the visit of Obama to India in November. Both sides are working to ensure deliverables from Obama's first trip here as President.

"Broadly speaking, relations between the United States and India have never been better, and are likely to continue on their very promising trajectory -- both in the near future and over the long-term," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said recently. "That's why President Obama has called India an 'indispensable partner' and said that 'our relations with India will be one of the defining partnerships for the United States in the 21st century'," he said.

The two countries recently held their first Strategic Dialogue. In the run up to Obama's visit, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns are also expected to travel here over the next three months.