US Has Broad and Comprehensive Relationship With India: Top Official

Washington: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here, a senior Obama administration official yesterday said that the US is not looking for a "transformational initiative" like the civil nuclear deal to dramatically change the face of its broad and comprehensive ties with India.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal ruled out the kind of direct investment in India announced by countries like Japan and China.

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to meet at the White House on September 29 and 30.

"There would be a robust agenda" during the visit, Biswal said during a conference call organised by the Asia Society and identified security, defence, trade, technology as some of the key areas of deliberations between the two countries during the Modi-Obama summit.


Responding to questions, Biswal acknowledged that there are "some tough issues" on both sides towards implementing the India-US civilian nuclear deal.

But there is a "strong desire" to work through these issues, she added.

"You will see renewed effort and commitment (from both sides) to work through these issues," Biswal said.

When asked about the massive investment being announced by countries like Japan and China, Biswal said the US is unlikely to do so.

"We certainly do not have the kind of directive economic system that we would bring on the table. Yet on the other hand American investment in India is quite consequential," she asserted.

Biswal said American technology is most cutting edge and most sought after. The Prime Minister is much interested in it.

"I think the US would certainly bring a lot to the relationship, some through the government to government channel. We will have some of the few specific things that we are going to be talking about and watching with respect to the visit," she said.