Visiting United States Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns met Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on Friday and discussed steps to take forward the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal.
Under the agreement reached between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush in Washington in July, India has agreed to separate its nuclear and military facilities and the US has pledged to change its domestic laws to resume nuclear supplies to Indian reactors.
Ahead of his visit, Burns said, "My trip to New Delhi is to focus on agreement on a timetable that will lead to decisions in the US Congress to change our law and ultimate decision of the Indian Government to meet their commitments."
"This cooperation that we're extending is unique to India. It is not going to be replicated to other countries," Burns had said in Paris.
He said India differed markedly from Iran or Pakistan, in that, it has not been a source of nuclear proliferation and had been 'transparent' about its programme.
Burns is also expected to convey Washington's appreciation of India voting in favour of the Indian Atomic Enery Agency resolution on Iran's nuclear programme. It feels, following India's decision, US Congressional opposition to the Indo-US nuclear agreement has disappeared.
"By the time Bush visits India in early winter 2006, you will see both meet our commitments and then the President and Prime Minister will be in a position to put this agreement into effect," Burns had earlier told the Asia Society in New York.
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