Menon, Burns discuss N-deal

The whole gamut of bilateral relations, the Indo-US nuclear deal and regional affairs came up for intensive discussions during talks Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon had with US Undersecretary of state for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

On his first visit to Washington after taking over as Foreign Secretary, Menon on Wednesday held three-hour-long discussions with Burns, who is the key negotiator for the deal.

Menon and Burns are understood to have discussed in depth the gamut of bilateral relations over and beyond the civilian nuclear initiative to include regional issues, sources in Washington said.

Following concerns in New Delhi over "certain elements" in the newly enacted US law on the deal, Menon was expected to present at the meeting India's proposals to be incorporated in the bilateral 123 agreement that is under negotiation to operationalise the deal.

Senior officials of the two sides are said to have had a candid exchange of views on Pakistan, the status of the dialogue, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Beyond the sub continent, Burns and Menon are also said to have discussed Iraq and Iran.

Details of the discussions would be available when the two senior officials come to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the evening and in the press conference the Indian Foreign Secretary has scheduled at the Indian Embassy on Friday.