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Hillary and PM discuss nukes, FDI, Afghanistan

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May 07, 2012 21:52 IST

Key strategic issues, including civil-nuclear cooperation, terrorism, the situations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran were discussed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Clinton, who is in India on the last leg of her three-nation Asia tour, called on Dr Singh at his Race Course Road residence, during which the two sides discussed ways to enhance economic ties. The prime minister outlined the opportunities in the area of infrastructure, official sources said.

The US Secretary of State also conveyed her country's expectations on the opening of Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector as well as a new set of economic reforms by the Indian government.

Both sides also talked about Iran and all aspects of Tehran's engagement with the international community including India.

The US has been urging India and other countries to slash oil imports from Iran to step up pressure on Tehran to comply with international demands over its nuclear programme, with Clinton earlier in the day asking New Delhi to do even more on this front.

Dr Singh and Clinton also talked about the situation in Afghanistan and ways to sustain development and stability in the war-torn country after the withdrawal of Western troops by 2014.

Clinton, who had started her three-nation Asia trip with a visit to China to attend the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, briefed Dr Singh about her "perceptions" of that country, sources said.

Asked if the issue of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was also discussed, sources said all aspects of terrorism were discussed but refused to divulge specifics of the deliberations.

The two sides also talked about their respective ties with Pakistan.

While India's ties with Pakistan are on an upward trajectory, US-Pakistan relations have been under strain for nearly a year-and-a-half.

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