'Issue of terrorism addressed by both leaders': Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh

Foreign secretary Sujatha Singh on Sunday said the issue of terrorism was discussed and addressed at some length by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Barack Obama, during their talks earlier in the day.

"As one of our most important strategic partners, we always discuss the entire range of issues of concern. The issue of terrorism was very much discussed and was addressed at some length by both the leaders," Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said at a press briefing here.

Earlier in the day, India and the U.S. sealed the civil nuclear deal, which had been stalled since 2008, after Prime Minister Modi and President Obama held delegation-level talks over the issue.

According to reports, U.S. has withdrawn the tracking clause from the deal.

Later, in a joint media address, President Obama announced enhanced cooperation between the two countries on key areas, including defence cooperation and promoting clean energy, and added that both sides agreed that trade and economic partnership must focus on improving the daily lives of the people.

The two countries also agreed to set up a hotline at the top leadership level.

"First time at the leader level we have a hotline set up; however at lower levels there are hotlines. There are other mechanisms at different levels, like for example the foreign secretaries between India and Pakistan, India and China at different levels. But at this level, it's a first," the Ministry of Externals Affairs said.