Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh on US visit to firm up ties

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh arrives here over the weekend for talks with US officials on key issues including the implementation of decisions made during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama's meeting in September.
The regional situation ahead of the drawdown of NATO troops in Afghanistan next year and the latest developments in Bangladesh, Iran and Syria will also prominently figure in Singh's meetings with her American interlocutors.
Her four-day Washington visit is part of efforts by India and the US to implement decisions made by Prime Minister Singh and President Obama during their meeting at the White House.

"The focus is how to go ahead with the implementation issues," a source said, referring to decisions made by the two leaders during the Prime Minister's highly successful US visit.
During their meetings, Singh and US officials are expected to ensure that the important relationship is not distracted or paused at a time when India is preparing for a general election.
The wide range of consultations Singh will hold on political and diplomatic issues, ranging from the Middle East to the Far East, is reflective of the depth of the India-US relationship, officials said.

During her visit, Singh would hold "foreign office" consultations on Tuesday at the State Department with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Windy Sherman.

She is also scheduled to meet James Dobbins, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, as part of the Obama-Singh decision to increase bilateral consultations on the war-torn country.
Singh is also expected to hold meetings at the Pentagon and the Department of Commerce.
"It (talks) will be bilateral, but it would also be issues of regional interest, what's happening in India's neighbourhood, which is not only Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also the Maldives, Nepal and most importantly Bangladesh," a source said.
"The latest developments in Iran would figure prominently in the talks, especially discussion on the challenges that are likely to come up in the next six months," the source said.

Syria too is likely to come up with New Delhi being keen to participate in the Geneva II process, the source added.
On energy, the Foreign Secretary is expected to pursue the shale gas issue to address New Delhi's galloping energy needs, sources said.