Tuesday, June 13 2006 09:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Launching formal talks on bilateral nuclear agreement, India and the US yesterday (June 12, 2006) held negotiations here aimed at narrowing differences on issues like possibility of future nuclear testing by New Delhi and assurances by Washington on atomic fuel supplies.

Officials of the two countries began three-day talks on Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement or 123 Agreement on the basis of drafts exchanged between Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns in London last month.

Indian side is led by S Jayshankar, Joint Secretary (America) in the External Affairs Ministry, while the US delegation is headed by Richard Stratfor, Director of the Department of Energy.

The Indian delegation also comprises officials from the Department of Atomic Energy while the US side includes representatives from the State Department and Bureau of Security and Non-proliferation.

While the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement concluded in March this year provides enough base for the bilateral pact, certain differences still persist between the two sides, sources told sources here yesterday (June 12, 2006).

These particularly relate to the issue of possibility of nuclear testing by India in the future and assurances by the US on continued nuclear fuel supplies.