Military

Clinton Calls For Deeper Ties With India During New Delhi Visit

19.07.2011 12:11

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pushed for nuclear deals and deeper security cooperation with India during a visit to New Delhi.

Clinton met with Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 19, less than a week after a triple bombing in Mumbai that killed 20 people -- including one man died from his injuries earlier in the day.

Clinton said she was heartened by India and Pakistan's decision to restart their stop-start peace process.

"We are encouraged by the dialogue occurring between India and Pakistan," Clinton said. "I was briefed on the recent developments today by the [Indian] Foreign Secretary and also discussed it with the national security adviser and also the [foreign] minister. We think that this is the most promising approach to encourage both sides to build more confidence between them."

Clinton said the two countries "can and must do more" in the area of civil nuclear energy amid frustrations over private U.S. nuclear-energy firms losing out in India to French and Russian firms.

Krishna, meanwhile, reiterated New Delhi's worries that a planned U.S. troop drawdown from Afghanistan could lead to instability.

Clinton planned on July 20 to travel on to the southeastern Indian port of Chennai, which is home to growing U.S. investments.

Clinton is in India on the third leg of a diplomatic tour that already has taken her to Turkey and Greece. After India, her entourage plans to visit Indonesia, Hong Kong, and southern mainland China.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us_vows_support_for_india_on_terrorism/24269926.html

Copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.