Date:16/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/stories/2007101660411200.htm

National

Mulford meets Pranab

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: U.S. Ambassador to India David Mulford on Monday met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here.

The two met in the backdrop of uncertainty enveloping the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal in view of opposition to it, mainly from the Left parties, which support the United Progressive Alliance government.

Official sources confirmed the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes. The meeting came ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s conversation with President George Bush.

Mr. Mukherjee is understood to have briefed Mr. Mulford on the recent developments that cast a shadow over the future of the deal. The U.S. envoy too wanted to know India’s mind regarding the future prospects of the deal and concerns which prompted the UPA government to put it on hold for the time being.

“Political compulsions”

It is understood that Mr. Mukherjee apprised Mr. Mulford of the “political compulsions” of the coalition government in operationalising the deal for the time being.

He is also understood to have told the U.S. envoy that the government would explore the ways of pushing through the deal in the near future.