India’s insistence on continuing to buy Iranian oil defying US sanctions, drawing common approach on China, Af-Pak situation and peace negotiations with Taliban dominated the talks of foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai who concluded his maiden bilateral visit here on Thursday.
The “serious situation” in Maldives after the resignation of President Mohamed Nasheed, the multi-billion jets deal, found passing mentions during Mr Mathai’s meetings spread over three days in Washington, sources said.
The issues like the implementation of the civilian nuclear deal, the upcoming India-US strategic dialogue and finding a common road map of global and regional were also discussed, they said. In a special gesture, secretary of state Hillary Clinton dropped by when Mr Mathai was meeting deputy secretary William Burns, reflecting the importance she attaches to Indo-US ties. The meeting between the Indian foreign secretary and his American counterpart Windy Sherman and under secretary of state for political affairs lasted more than four hours.
Indeed, Mr Mathai and his team of diplomats spent most part of his day at the state department on Tuesday, except for their visit to the White House to meet officials of Mr Obama’s National Security team. Mr Mathai also met the Special US Representatives for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, wherein the recent peace talks with the Taliban dominated the talks. Iran, as expected, appears to be the immediate irritant to the ties between India and the US, which was evident when Mr Mathai and his team of diplomats drove down to the Capitol Hill.