Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai to hold talks with top White House, State Dept officials

WASHINGTON: A host of bilateral and regional issues, including the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Iranian sanctions and Pak-Afghan situation, are expected to figure prominently in talks Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai will have with top US officials during his visit here next week.

Mathai, who is visiting the US for the first time in his capacity as Foreign Secretary, would also drive down to the Capitol Hill during his February 6-8 trip to meet top US lawmakers and is likely to discuss with them the Iranian sanctions issue, officials said.

"They (Mathai and State Department officials) are of course going to discuss all of the issues that fall under our strong bilateral relationship, as well as many global issues," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at his daily news conference.

Responding to a question on Iranian sanctions and their implications on its partners and allies like India, Toner said the US was talking to its allies and partners throughout the world on the latest curbs on Tehran.

"We are trying to do it in a fashion that doesn't put undue pressure on our partners in this process," he said.

A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mathai's visit would give them a chance to speak to the top Indian diplomat on New Delhi's stand on Iran sanctions, besides discussing ongoing developments in the Af-Pak region, Indo-Pak dialogue and the Afghan reconciliation process.