India, US discuss ways to end differences on nuke liability law

NEW DELHI: US today said India shared its commitment to the "full implementation" of the Civil Nuclear Agreement as both countries discussed ways to iron out differences on the nuclear liability law.

US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who is here on a visit, today held wide-ranging talks with Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai covering the issue of implementation of civil nuclear deal and other subjects like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon.

"We had very productive discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. We stressed our shared interest in expanding our economic cooperation between our two countries (and) our shared commitment to the full implementation of the Civil Nuclear Agreement," Burns told reporters.

He said he was pleased to follow-up on the "excellent meeting" President Barack Obama had with Prime Minister Singh in Bali in Indonesia last month.

Implementation of the civil nuclear agreement, signed in 2008 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then President George W Bush, has been a matter of contention, particularly due to American reservations on India's nuclear liability law.

The US contends that the legislation is not in tune with the IAEA's Convention on Supplementary Compensation thus making it difficult for US companies to start nuclear commerce with India.