Thursday, June 15 2006 10:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India and the US yesterday (June 14, 2006) reported 'good progress' on reaching a common position on the proposed bilateral nuclear agreement as they wound up first round of official-level talks here.

Keen to conclude the agreement at the earliest, the two sides decided to hold "fairly soon" the second round of discussions on the Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, also called 123 Agreement.

The two sides had 'very productive discussions', sources told sources after three-day talks which saw the two countries holding tough negotiations on various aspects of the agreement, particularly issues like future nuclear testing by India and assurances on atomic fuel supplies by the US.

The two countries made 'good progress to reach an agreed text' on the pact, the sources said.

At the talks, Indian side was led by S Jai Shankar, Joint Secretary (America) in the External Affairs Ministry, while the US delegation was headed by Richard Stratford, 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.