Oz may back India at NSG,Asean say N-deal positive

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma and Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on the sidelines of the Asean ministerial meet here, official sources said.      

"Australia gave positive understanding of the issue and noted that India has an impeccable track record on non-proliferation," they told PTI.      

Sharma also met Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and the Indo-US nuclear deal is understood to have figured during their talks.     

Meanwhile, the 10-member Asean described the Indo-US nuclear deal as an "extremely positive" step, hoping that the two countries would be able to conclude the pact soon.      

During the Asean-India Ministerial Meeting attended by Sharma, the regional grouping said they welcomed the Indo-US agreement which would ensure energy security for India.