Counter-terror cooperation, N-issues on India, US agenda

Strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, ironing out differences over various nuclear issues and the evolving situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan will dominate the agenda when external affairs minister SM Krishna hosts US secretary of state Hillary Clinton for the India-US strategic dialogue on Tuesday.

Strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, ironing out differences over various nuclear issues and the evolving situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan will dominate the agenda when external affairs minister SM Krishna hosts US secretary of state Hillary Clinton for the India-US strategic dialogue on Tuesday.

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Hillary will also call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee besides having a breakfast meeting on Tuesday with national security adviser Shivshankar Menon.

A bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between India and the US was inked on Monday, coinciding with the visit Clinton to India and another pact dealing with cyber security is in the offing.

Top US counter-terrorism officials, including the director of US National Intelligence James R Clapper and deputy secretary at the department of homeland security Jane Holl Lute are among the officials those accompanying Clinton to India.

Both sides are keen on strengthening the counter-terrorism cooperation.

The nuclear deal between the two countries will also figure in the talks, as will concerns over the clean waiver India had received from the nuclear suppliers group (NSG) coming to an end.

With the NSG strengthening its guidelines there are clouds over India getting the enrichment and reprocessing technologies.

The US firms have concerns over India's domestic nuclear liability legislation — the rules for which are in the process of being finalised.

The political process of the Taliban reconciliation will also figure in the discussions.