Indo-US strategic partnership talks begin today

US Under Secretary of State for Commerce, Kenneth Juster will hold extensive parleys with National Security Adviser JN Dixit and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran to explore ways to carry forward this process.

Just ahead of the meeting in New York on September 21 between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush, the two sides had successfully concluded the first phase of the NSSP.

US eased restrictions on supply of equipment and technology for India's civilian space and nuclear programmes, which included removing ISRO from a prohibition list, clearing a major obstacle in Indo-US strategic ties.

Both Singh and Bush had welcomed the implementation of the phase, terming it as the beginning of a new era of cooperation and trust. Expanded defence cooperation was perceived as an integral aspect expanding ties.