New Delhi, July 17 (IANS) The US remains “committed” to the civil nuclear agreement but also wants to engage with India in global non-proliferation efforts, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said ahead of her India visit.
In an interview to the CNN-IBN television channel telecast Friday, Clinton indicated non-proliferation was a priority concern for the Obama administration.

She underlined that she will have discussions with her Indian interlocutors on “how we can work together for a common purpose of preventing the proliferation of nuclear material and weapons to state and non-state actors to pose a threat to India to the Unites States and to the many countries around the world”.

Clinton is beginning her first India visit as secretary of state Friday evening.

There have been voices of concern in India after the G8 joint statement this month made a reference to banning transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Clinton noted that the US and other countries in the G8 were “very concerned” about nuclear proliferation, but added, “we are committed to the civil nuclear agreement that was signed during the Bush administration”.

She said there could be “some announcements about the continuing implementation of that (civil nuclear) agreement” during her visit.

Asked if India had agreed to resume talks with Pakistan due to pressure from the US, Clinton said: “No, not at all. I am very impressed with PM (Manmohan) Singh meeting both President Zardari and now with Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan.

“This dialogue between India and Pakistan is certainly one that could only be pursued with the agreement and commitment of the two countries and the leaders, but of course the United States is very supportive…”.