Mathai arrives to hold key talks with top US officials
PTI | 10:02 AM,Feb 05,2012From Lalit K Jha Washington, Feb 5 (PTI) India and the US will discuss a host of bilateral and regional issues during talks between top American officials and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, who arrived here today. Mathai, who is here on his first bilateral visit to the US, would also drive down to the Capitol Hill during his four- day trip to meet top US lawmakers and is likely to discuss with them the Iranian sanctions issue, officials said. "They (Mathai and State Department officials) are of course going to discuss all of the issues that fall under our strong bilateral relationship, as well as many global issues," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said earlier. Responding to a question on Iranian sanctions and their implications on its partners and allies like India, Toner said the US was talking to its allies and partners throughout the world on the latest curbs on Tehran. "We are trying to do it in a fashion that doesn't put undue pressure on our partners in this process," he said. A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mathai's visit would give them a chance to speak to the top Indian diplomat on New Delhi's stand on Iran sanctions, besides discussing ongoing developments in the Af-Pak region, Indo-Pak dialogue and the Afghan reconciliation process. Mathai, in his talks with US officials at the State Department and the White House among other things, is expected to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including the civil nuclear deal ahead of the India-US Strategic Dialogue early this year. He is scheduled to speak on "Building on Convergence: Deepening the India-US Strategic Partnership" at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Monday. PTI LKJ
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