Thursday, March 10 2005 10:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: India and Britain yesterday (Mar 9, 2005) shared "identical views" as External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh held talks with his British counterpart Jack Straw on a range of issues, including Indo-Pak ties, developments in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

"We discussed a whole gamut of issues, including India-Pakistan relations, developments in Afghanistan, Middle East, West Asia, UN Security Council (UNSC) and the forthcoming visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to New Delhi next week," Singh, who arrived in London yesterday on his way to South Africa, said.

"On all these issues, we have identical views," said Singh, who is on his way to attend a two-day meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Ministerial Commission in Cape Town commencing today (Mar 10, 2005).

About his meeting with Straw, Singh said, "We had met just three weeks ago in New Delhi. The more I get to know him, the more I admire him."

Earlier, Straw told reporters, they had a "very good discussion" on a wide range of world issues, including Iran, Myanmar, South Asia, besides bilateral and Indo-Pak issues.

He expressed Britain's appreciation of the "further improvement" in relations between India and Pakistan and cited the current test cricket between the two countries as an example.

At the IDSA Ministerial meeting in Cape Town, an agreement is expected to be reached on establishment of a Council made up of business chambers from the three countries.

Indian High Commissioner to UK Kamalesh Sharma and British High Commissioner to India Michael Arthur were also present at the meeting.