Indo-US tech group to hold talks

India and the US will hold the next round of talks on technology in Washington, DC on Thursday.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran will lead the Indian delegation of the Indo-US High Technology Cooperation Group; Undersecretary for Commerce Kenneth Juster will lead the Americans.

The visit is expected to give Saran an opportunity to meet the new Bush administration officials and discuss the general road map for further consolidating Indo-US relations.

The talks come at a time when US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is all set to take over as the secretary of state and her deputy Stephen Hadley is ready to replace her.

During their maiden meeting on September 21, US President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided to embark on the second phase of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership.

Phase-I of the NSSP talks included implementation of measures to address proliferation concerns and to ensure compliance with US export controls.

US officials said these efforts had enabled Washington, DC to make modifications to export licensing policies that would foster cooperation in commercial space programmes and permit certain exports to power plants at safeguarded nuclear facilities.

They said these modifications, including removing the Indian Space Research Organisation headquarters from the entity list of the commerce department, were fully consistent with the US government's non-proliferation laws, objectives and obligations.

The US proposals for Container Security Initiative and Maritime Security Initiative, which essentially entail greater cooperation in screening and transport of high-risk cargo, may figure during the parleys.

he Indian Space Research Organisation headquarters from the entity list of the commerce department, were fully consistent with the US government's non-proliferation laws, objectives and obligations.

The US proposals for Container Security Initiative and Maritime Security Initiative, which essentially entail greater cooperation in screening and transport of high-risk cargo, may figure during the parleys.