Kerry puts timeframe on Indo-US nuclear deal

As compared to last year’s joint statement that the two countries are committed to “full” implementation of the nuclear deal,Kerry added the word “timely”.

After talks with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid for over four hours Monday,Kerry said,“US and India are committed to timely implementation of the civil nuclear deal… look forward to the intention of Westinghouse and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited to arrive at a commercial agreement,and we agreed that the commercial agreement should be arrived at by September.” Kerry also met PM Manmohan Singh Monday.

On the proposed talks with Taliban,Kerry said the US special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan,James Dobbins,will be in Delhi on Wednesday to brief the Indian government.

Khurshid said,“This (proposed talks with Taliban) is an experiment to find an alternative for sustainable peace in Afghanistan. One cannot disagree with the issues or dimensions or aspects which are of concern to us. I must say with gratitude that the Secretary of State himself earmarked that and said that as they proceed,they will ensure that none of the concerns of India are overlooked or undermined.” Kerry said the talks with the Taliban will only be negotiated under “certain conditions”. “Thus far,those conditions have not yet been met… If the conditions are met,then there will be negotiations…not with the US but with the High Peace Council of Afghanistan.”

Kerry termed India’s reductions in oil import from Iran as an “important step” in bringing pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. “We are appreciative that India has worked hard to reduce its dependency on Iranian oil and that has been an important step,” he said.

Kerry and Khurshid voicing their views on Syria. While US side is learnt to have said that Bashar al-Assad regime cannot continue acting in a manner leading to deaths of people,India maintained that the ongoing fighting should not spill over in the region.