Tuesday, July 12 2005 17:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India will be looking for a "political push" on issues such as cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, economic ties as well as Defence and security matters during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's talks with US President George W Bush in Washington next week.

Official sources today (July 12, 2005) spoke of "very real positive changes" in the relations between the two countries during the past one year but acknowledged Washington's disquiet over the resolution moved by India and other G-4 countries for an expansion of the UN Security Council.

The possibility that the US may oppose the resolution in the UN is not ruled out.

International terrorism, highlighted by last week's bomb blasts in London, will be one of the important subjects of Singh's discussions with the American leadership, the sources said, emphasising that there was recognition on both sides that more needs to be done in tackling this scourge.

India's energy requirements, particularly civilian nuclear energy, are very high on the agenda with New Delhi seeking recognition, as a responsible nuclear power with large energy needs. It will be seeking access to technology and supplies in this regard as part of larger co-operation in this area.

Singh leaves on July 16 for his first visit to Washington since assuming the high office. After an overnight stopover at Frankfurt he will reach Washington the next day for talks with Bush and other American leaders beginning July 18.

An address to a joint session of US Congress will be among his important engagements.

India's candidature of Security Council

Seeking to play down any expectations that the US will make a dramatic announcement of its support for India's candidature of the Security Council, the sources said there was no explicit support on this from Washington which, however, had acknowledged that New Delhi had the credentials for it.

Despite US disquiet on the issue, India was going ahead with the initiative taken by G-4 countries, the sources emphasised.

Energy cooperation, wider engagement on technology related issues and in terms of defence and security were listed by the sources as key components of Indo-US relations on which the focus would be during Singh's discussions.

The Indian line on the energy issue is that the world's energy resources were already under a strain with the oil prices touching $60 a barrel. Countries like India and China needed to deal urgently with the energy challenge and find new sources including nuclear energy.

During the Prime Minister's discussions India will be hoping for a political affirmation at the highest level of the cooperation in the field of energy, of which civilian nuclear energy cooperation is a part and parcel.

New Delhi is proud of its impecable record in nuclear non-proliferation and is committed to tightening its export controls, the sources said.

Asked if India was seeking nuclear fuel for Tarapur, the sources said that such fuel could come as part of larger cooperation in the energy sector.

Indo-Iran gas pipeline issue

On reports that the US was unhappy with the plans for an Indo-Iran gas pipeline, they said that Iran was a major source of energy to this country and India's only access route to Afghanistan. Any decision on the pipeline would be based on this.

On economic relation, the sources pointed out that trade and investment had not not kept pace with the growing political relationship between the two countries. The Indo-US CEOs forum would be meeting in Washington during Singh's visit with a view to give a fillip to economic ties.

The Prime Minister had spoken of India's requirements of an investment of $150 billion in infrastructure much of it would come in the shape of foreign investement, the sources recalled.

Singh was not going to Washington with a shopping list but there was a "substantial menu for broadening the Indo-US relations", they summed up.