Thursday, August 25 2005 13:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Ahead of United States (US) Congress taking up changing laws to spur Indo-American nuclear cooperation, India has decided to sign an agreement soon with lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers International.

"It is our intention to engage the services of the firm for advice and counsel to further our objectives here," Indian embassy spokesman here, Venu Rajamony, told PTI yesterday (August 24, 2005).

The services of the lobbying firm was apparently sought to help get Congressional approval next month for the Indo-US nuclear deal announced during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's American visit. The decision was taken amidst reports that some Democrat lawmakers may question the deal.

Rajamony did not reveal the fees to be paid to the firm, pointing out that the agreement was yet to be signed.

Meanwhile, he denied media reports that former Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill, was heading the firm.

"Blackwill is the President of a separate international company. Legally, Blackwill is prohibited from representing Foreign Governments for one year which began when he left the administration in November," he said.

India had terminated its services with Akin Gump Strauss Haur and Feld last year apparently after Bush Administration decided to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.