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India tells US of concern over banning dual-use technology

India today underlined its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation but conveyed its concern to the United States over the denial of dual use technology for civilian purposes.

Briefing the media at the end of the two-day Indo-US talks on nuclear-related export controls, senior Indian officials said the Americans were satisfied with the effective export controls systems India had.

The Indian delegation to the talks was led by joint secretary Americas in the external affairs ministry Alok Prasad and the US team by deputy assistant secretary of state for export controls John Barker.

The next meeting will be held in six to eight weeks.

The officials said the transfer of high technology to India would depend on the successful outcome of the Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbott political dialogue on disarmament and non-proliferation, of which the focus was on export controls.

They said the results of the just concluded talks would be fed into the next round of high-level political dialogue scheduled for November 19 in Rome.

A statement by the US embassy said, ''The United States appreciates India's commitment to non-proliferation as reflected in the effective system of export controls and applauds India's support for enhancing its export control system.''

The Indian delegation to the talks included representatives of the department of atomic energy, the ministry of commerce, the Indian Space Research Organisation, the department of excise and customs, the ministry of defence, the department of defence products and supplies, and the department of electronics.

The US team included representatives from the State Department, the arms controls and disarmament agency, the department of commerce, the department of energy, the department of defence and the joint chiefs of staff.

UNI

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