Click to play videoNew Delhi: Hillary Clinton's maiden visit to India as Secretary of State and two hours of talks with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna ended on Monday with the signing of two agreements - technology safeguards for space launches and setting up an S&T endowment board.
India looked as if it bent to US pressure, agreeing to American monitoring of India's high-tech defence purchases.
Clinton – who wrapped up her India visit on Monday - also announced two nuclear parks to be set up India even as the two nations agreed on end-use monitoring agreement and on procurement of defence equipment and technology.
If if comes through, the end use agreement will allow American defence companies to sell defence hardware and software with the rider that India will neither pass on the weapons nor the technology forward.
The agreement on two nuclear parks for American nuclear rectors could not be signed as India is yet to approve the liability agreement and Hillary Clinton was evasive about why the US got the G8 to ban the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology to non-NPT members.
The two countries also signed three agreements on science and technology, space cooperation and end-user monitoring accord, that will pave way for more defence deals between the two countries.
Clinton, who chaired a press conference with Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna, said India and US have also agreed on a strategic dialogue co-chaired by foreign ministers.
She also announced the two countries were in talks to set up two nuclear parks in India.
"I am pleased that PM told me that sites for two nuclear parks has been approved by India. it will advance aims of the Indo-US nuclear deal and facilitate billions of dollars of US reactor exports and create jobs in both countries and generate the much-needed energy for Indian people," she said.
Clinton also conveyed US President Barack Obama's invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to make a state visit to Washington on November 24.
Clinton also said the US was keen to know India's perspective on Iran's nuclear weapons programme.
"In the discussions today and to come in future, we will be exploring with India their approach and perspectives towards Iran and any advice that they can contribute to an international consensus about the dangers posed to global stability if Iran were to become a nuclear weapons power," she said.
She further said that there was no difference in the positions of India and United States on Iran's nuclear weapons programme. "Prime Minister Singh is on public record on saying that India does not want to see Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. Exactly the same position as we do," she added.
But glitches remained. While Krishna would not comment on Clinton's claim that India like the US opposed Iran developing nuclear weapons, Clinton would not comment on the special relationship with China.
US wants India to be a partner to tackle global challenges of the 21st century. But on at least three areas - climate change, non proliferation and the Doha trade round - there remain serious differences between them.
(Inputs from Paarull)
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