By IANS,
New Delhi: Nearly two months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington, India Thursday again pressed the US for removal of export controls on high technology and dual-use items to infuse more confidence into bilateral ties.
“We have been told by the US administration that they are engaged in efforts to bring significant reform to their export controls so as to free up opportunities for defence cooperation with India,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in a lecture titled ‘The United States and India: Chartering the Future Course’.
“We look forward to these outcomes,” Rao said.
She was speaking at the India Initiative of the Centre for a New American Security and the ASPEN Institute India that was also attended by Nicholas Burns, a senior state department official who served a key negotiator for the India-US civil nuclear deal.
“In our view, the removal of export controls on the supply of high technology and dual use items would inspire an even greater degree of confidence in our bilateral relationship and understanding,” Rao stressed.
Rao contended that “an expanded, multi-faceted relationship between India and the US would naturally entail a focus on military cooperation including joint visits and exercises, cooperation in the protection of sea lanes and the control of piracy.
During his talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington Nov 24, Manmohan Singh had taken up the issue of loosening US export controls that continue to inhibit the use of certain high-technology and dual-use items to India despite India having inked a landmark nuclear deal with the US.