India seeks access to Headley

“Deputy Secretary Burns and Foreign Secretary Singh affirmed our support for continued dialogue between the major parties in Bangladesh that will lead to timely, free, fair, and credible elections,” a State Department spokesperson said.  

On resumption of talks with Pakistan, the Indian delegation reiterated the position stated by Prime Minister Singh in his meeting with Obama that peace and tranquility has to be maintained along the Line of Control and there needs to be progress in the 26/11 attack case trial.  

On the trade and investment side, the two delegations discussed the issues that were of concern to US as well as that of India.

“I think there has been let up in the negative coverage,” sources said, attributing this to the efforts being made by India in the past few months.

While the US side raised the issue of intellectual property rights, compulsory licensing and foreign direct investment, India raised the issue of immigration reform, certain provisions of which are hurting Indian companies.

“I think there is a clear understanding that trade and investment forms a central pillar of our relationship,” sources said.