Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was unable to "fully understand" the reasons behind China's assertiveness over the border dispute with India.

"We have tried to engage China in the last five years. We have a longstanding border problem with China. We are trying to resolve it through dialogue," he said Monday while speaking to policy wonks at the Council on Foreign Relations, the influential US think tank.

Manmohan Singh, who met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Thailand this month, added: "I have received assurances from the Chinese leadership at the highest level but there is a certain assertiveness on part of the Chinese. I don't fully understand the reasons for it. That has been a concern."

Manmohan Singh explained the larger context of Sino-Indian relations, marred by Beijing's objections to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and New Delhi's refusal to prevent him from going to the northeastern state -- a region China claims.

The prime minister said the two countries were trying to resolve their border dispute, which led to war in 1962, through dialogue.

"China is one of our major trading partners. Pending that, both countries have decided to maintain peace and tranquility along the border," he said.

This is the first time Manmohan Singh, who has maintained consistently that there was enough space for India and China to grow, has expressed his displeasure over China's muscle flexing.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who is accompanying the prime minister on his visit to the US, told reporters later: "Coupled with the rise of China, there is an increased assertiveness on part of China to assert its claims of sovereignty over territory."

The former Indian envoy to China added that this was very much in evidence during the Olympics, when Beijing made it clear that it would not brook any protests over human rights or Tibet.

Rao added that India was engaged in "a good constructive relationship" with the US, but admitted that there were complex problems like the border dispute that needed to be resolved.

In his address, Manmohan Singh said there was enough space for India and China to grow.

Trying to repudiate any impression of rivalry between India and China, Manmohan Singh underlined that engagement was the best way to promote the peaceful rise of China.

"We want the world to prepare for the peaceful rise of China as a major power. Engagement is the right path for India as well as the US," he said.

Catastrophe if Taliban, Al Qaeda succeed in Afghanistan: PM 

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) The success of Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan would have catastrophic results, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said while urging the global community to provide sustained support to Afghanistan to return to peace.

"History has taught us that peace, security and prosperity are indivisible. That is why the evolution of Afghanistan as a stable and moderate nation state is so vital for the region and the world," he said Monday while addressing the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading US think tank.

"The road to peace in Afghanistan will be long and hard. But, given the high stakes involved, the commitment of the international community must be sustained by firm resolve and unity of purpose," he said.

Asked if the results in Afghanistan would be decisive for Pakistan, Manmohan Singh said: "I have no doubt in my mind that if Taliban and Al Qaeda group of people succeed in Afghanistan that would have catastrophic results for the security and stability not only of Pakistan but also for the security and stability of whole South Asia."

Apart from the 1.8 billion people living in South Asia, he said, it would "affect the course of evolution in the Middle East, Central Asia and maybe I think beyond these regions as well".

Manmohan Singh declined to interject in the ongoing debate in the US on the right size of troops that need to be deployed in Afghanistan as he was not an expert on military affairs.

But, he said: "I am clear in my mind that Afghanistan requires the sustained support of global community if it is to return to a path of peace, freedom and an environment in which fundamentalist and terrorists elements do not have the sway of the type they had some years ago before 9/11."

Addressing Pakistan's perceived concerns about New Delhi's role in Afghanistan, the prime minister said India has enduring civilisational links with the country and "we do not see Afghanistan as a theatre of influence".

"Our interest is in building a region of peace and stability. India will continue to assist Afghanistan in building its institutions and its human resources," he said.

Noting that democracy in an ancient land like Afghanistan would take time to take root, he said: "It is vitally important that all major regional and international players put their weight behind the government of Afghanistan. This is the only way Afghanistan can meet the daunting challenges it faces."

India asks US, world to stay the course in Afghanistan 

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Amid reports of declining support for the war in Afghanistan in the US, India has asked the international community to stay engaged in the violence-torn country and warned against any premature exit that will embolden extremists and destabilise the region.

The pointed message by Manmohan Singh came hours before he meets US President Barack Obama Tuesday during which the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's role in fomenting instability in that country will figure prominently in the discussions.

In two separate addresses to a leading think tank and to top Indian and American businesspersons Monday, Manmohan Singh highlighted India's stakes in the stability of Afghanistan and advised the US and the international community not to abandon Afghanistan under any circumstances.

Premature talk of exit would only embolden terrorists and destabilise the region, Manmohan Singh said at an event organised by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) amid speculation that Obama would announce a troops surge in Afghanistan as part of its new AfPak strategy.

He reinforced this message to top strategic experts at the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR), a leading American think tank.

"The road to peace on Afghanistan will be long and hard. But given the high stakes involved, the commitment of the international community must be sustained by firm resolve and unity of purpose," Manmohan Singh said.

India has pledged $1.2 billion for various reconstruction activities in Afghanistan.

Placing the prime minister's remarks in perspective, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said Manmohan Singh's message was aimed at convincing the international community about the need to stay engaged in Afghanistan and to convince the Americans that their support was crucial to building a modern Afghanistan.

The focus on dealing with extremists should not be eliminated, she said.

Manmohan Singh's remarks came amid speculation about an imminent announcement by the Obama administration about its new Afghanistan policy that may include pledging more American troops.

India, US CEOs to share growth ideas with Manmohan, Obama 

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Members of the newly reconstituted India-US CEO's Forum are expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama Tuesday to share their thoughts on how to achieve the full potential of their economic partnership.

The 24-member reconstituted forum headed by Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Sons Limited, from the Indian side and David Cote, CEO, Honeywell Inc. from the US side held its first meeting here Monday to discuss how to deepen the economic partnership between the two nations.

Tata and Cote later reported the outcome of their discussions to Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, and Michael Froman, deputy national security adviser to the president for International Economic Affairs, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, US Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk, Director of National Economic Council Larry Summers and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Frontier areas of bilateral cooperation such as biotechnology, IT, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and high tech manufacturing are represented in the CEO Forum. Of the 24 CEOs, five are women, reflecting the fact that women are increasingly making a mark in business in both countries.

From the Indian side, the members are: Mukesh Ambani, chairman and MD Reliance Industries Limited, O.P. Bhatt, chairman State Bank of India, S. Gopalakrishnan, CEO and MD Infosys Technologies Limited, Analjit Singh, chairman and MD Max India Limited, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman and MD Biocon Limited, Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospital Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman and group managing director Bharti Enterprises, Chanda Kochhar, MD and CEO ICICI Bank Limited, Deepak Parekh, chairman HDFC Limited and Ashok Ganguly, chairman Firstsource Solutions Limited.

From the US side the members are: Louis R. Chenevert, president and CEO United Technologies Corp, Richard T.Clark, chairman, president and CEO Merck, James Dimon, chairman and CEO JP Morgan Chase, Paul T. Hanrahan, president and CEO AES Corporation, Dr.Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and CEO Qualcomm Inc, Ellen J. Kullman, CEO DuPont, Andrew N. Liveris, chairman and CEO Dow, Terry McGraw, CEO The McGraw-Hill Companies, Indra K. Nooyi, chairperson and CEO PepsiCo, Vikram Pandit, CEO Citigroup and Michael Splinter, president and CEO Applied Materials.

PM asks world to pressurise Pakistan

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Warning of "phenomenal consequences" if the advance of terrorists in Pakistan was not controlled, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the world community to pressurise Islamabad to do much more to bring to book those responsible for the "horrible" 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"We don't want Pakistan to fail and emergence of democracy in Pakistan is something we welcome," he said at the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading US think tank Monday. "But at the same time we have to recognise that there are forces at work in Pakistan that are with terrorists."

"At least until now they were active only in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Now I think they hold direct on grip in several parts of mainland Pakistan.

"If that process is not controlled, it has I think phenomenal consequences for the security and stability of Pakistan as well as our own security," he added.

Asked if he regretted not taking the military option in retaliation against the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the prime minister said he resisted enormous pressure at that time "and I think the decision that I took was balanced and right decision".

"As regards future, I hate to speculate and sincerely hope that that sort of eventuality does not arise," Manmohan Singh said. "And that's why I believe world community has an obligation to impress upon Pakistan that it must use all its influence to curb the power of terrorist groups."

The prime minister said Pakistan had done something to control the activities of Taliban terrorist groups in FATA, but "it has not acted as it should have acted in bringing the terrorists elements who are using their territory to target our country".

Nor has Pakistan used all its machinery to bring to book all those murderers and those who perpetrated the horrible crime in Mumbai, he said, urging the world community to pressurise Pakistan to bring to book all those who are responsible for it.

There was now impeccable evidence that the conspiracy was planned in Pakistan with the active connivance of people still roaming about freely in Pakistan, he said. "Therefore I respectfully respect the world community to use all its influence on powers that be in Pakistan to desist from this sort of behaviour."

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)

Public opinion against reviving dialogue with Pakistan: India

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) On the eve of the first 26/11 anniversary, India has made it clear that the present situation is not conducive for the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan in the absence of Islamabad's action against terror and stressed that public opinion was against any talks.

Manmohan Singh, however, made a limited conditional offer to resume the peace dialogue with Pakistan and resolve all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, provided it abjures terrorism and comes to the table with good faith and sincerity.

"My government has invested heavily over the past few years in normalising relations with Pakistan," he said Monday in an address to the Council On Foreign Relations (CFR), a leading US think-tank.

He recalled that the two countries had "made considerable progress on the road to a durable and permanent settlement of all outstanding issues" before the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks stalled the peace dialogue. "I have said that we are ready to pick up the threads of the dialogue, including on issues related to Jammu and Kashmir."

"We seek a South Asia of peace, friendship and prosperity, where its borders will be energised by the flow of people, goods and ideas."

"For this to happen, Pakistan must make a break with the past, abjure terrorism and come to the table with good faith and sincerity," the prime minister said. He expressed his "solemn hope that India and Pakistan can together move forward to write a new chapter in the history of the subcontinent".

Noting that the first anniversary of the heinous and barbaric terrorist attacks on Mumbai was three days away, he said: "The trauma of that attack continues to haunt us. Terrorism poses an existential threat to the civilised world and must be defeated."

"We should not harbour any illusions that a selective approach to terrorism, tackling it in one place while ignoring it in others, will work," he said.

"The present situation is not conducive to the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here.

Rao underscored India's mounting exasperation over lack of adequate action by Pakistan against the Mumbai terrorists and the larger anti-India terror infrastructure.

"For this dialogue to regain momentum, we will need to have progress by Pakistan to take action against terrorism," Rao said while briefing reporters about Manmohan Singh's meeting with a group of US Congressmen and Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

"The weight of public opinion is against it. The mood of the people, the mood of the parliament is against it," Rao said ahead of the meeting of the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.

Rao also underlined the need by the US to exercise greater vigil and oversight over billions of dollars given in aid to Pakistan. "We emphasised the need to have greater accountability," she said.

"Our experience has been an unhappy one. They (US) are conscious of our concerns," she said while indicating India's greater congruence with the US over issues relating to India and Pakistan.

PM outlines vision of strategic ties with US

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) A day before he sits down for talks with President Barack Obama, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday outlined his vision of a strategic relationship with the US and said they were finalising the details of the nuclear deal that will make their landmark atomic agreement "fully operational".

"We are currently finalising the details that will make the (nuclear) agreement fully operational," he told a select gathering of top US business leaders at the US India Business Council (USIBC). 

"Once that is done, it will remove restrictions on the flow of technology in nuclear and many other areas," Manmohan Singh said ahead of his Tuesday summit with President Barack Obama. 

"This will open a large area of commercial opportunities for US business," he said while pitching for greater American investment in areas ranging from infrastructure to agriculture and defence.

Assuring American business that India will continue down the road for economic reforms and will recover its economic growth rate of nine percent dented by the global economic crisis in two years, Manmohan Singh said: "You should have no doubt on that score."

"The economic reforms of the past have brought us advantages and I can assure you that we will continue down the road," he said. 

The prime minister also announced that India and US will Tuesday sign a memorandum of understanding on energy security, clean energy and climate change to pave the way for cooperation of American companies in these areas. 

"This will provide a framework for pursuing bilateral cooperation in specific areas," he said, noting that these are areas where American companies are leaders in the field. "We should explore possible areas of cooperation." 

After the signing of MoU Tuesday, a number of collaborative projects are likely to be announced soon, official sources told IANS.

"A web of economic relationships intensifies both business-to-business and people to people contacts, promoting a deeper and better understanding between countries," Manmohan Singh said. 

"That is the kind of relationship we want with the United States," he said, adding American business has been part of India's economic transformation. 

Noting that American business has played a vital role in transforming the India-US relationship into a strategic partnership, the prime minister invited them "to stay engaged as we transform India from a low income country into a vibrant market of over a billion people, with steadily growing purchasing power".

China's non-democratic path is not for India: Manmohan 

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought to downplay the recent US-China joint statement saying it's not of "direct concern" to him, but asserted that India will not choose the "non-democratic" Chinese path of high economic growth, but its own route of democracy and development.

"What happens between President Obama and Chinese President Hu is not of direct concern to us," he said Monday during an interaction with policy wonks at the Council on Foreign Relations, the influential US think-tank.

He was responding to a question on a section of the recent US-China joint statement envisaging a role for Beijing in South Asia's developments and in India-Pakistan affairs that triggered apprehensions in India about the Obama administration appeasing China at the cost of India.

The joint statement was issued after the talks between US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing last week.

The statement cast a shadow over the visit of Manmohan Singh to the US, strengthening the impression among some quarters that the Obama administration was more focussed on China than maintaining momentum of ties with India which were transformed by a landmark nuclear deal last year.

In a bid to repudiate any impression of rivalry between India and China, the two rising Asian powers, Manmohan Singh underlined that engagement was the best way to promote the peaceful rise of China.

"We want the world to prepare for the peaceful rise of China as a major power. Engagement is the right path for India as well as the US," he said.

In a veiled critique of China, Manmohan Singh said although India's economic performance may not match that of China's, but it would still prefer the Indian democracy rather than the Chinese non-democratic path.

"There is no doubt that the Chinese growth performance is superior to the Indian performance," he said in response to another question on why the Indian economic performance was lagging behind that of China's.

"But I have always believed there are other values which are more important than the growth of gross domestic product like respect for fundamental human freedoms, respect for rule of law, respect for multi-religious, multi-ethnic rights," he said.

"Certainly, I would like to choose the Chinese path. I would like to stick to the Indian path," he stressed.

No support for Iran's nuclear ambitions, but hope engagement works: Manmohan Singh 

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made it clear that India does not support Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions, but hoped that President Barack Obama's approach of engagement without pre-conditions would yield positive results.

"As far as Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions are concerned I have stated it unambiguously on several occasions that we don't support nuclear ambitions of Iran," he said Monday at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a leading US think-tank.

While as a signatory to NPT (Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty) it has all the rights that flow from the NPT for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it has obligations that go with its membership, he said in reply to a question.

"There is no ambiguity in our position and we are quite clear in our thinking that Iran should not go in for nuclear weapon or all that is inconsistent with obligations as member of NPT."

The Prime Minister also made it clear that India would abide any sanctions imposed by the Security Council on Iran, but indicated that he favoured the path of engagement with Iran.

"Now as regards the sanctions, let me say that if the Security Council in its wisdom passes a new resolution we have in the past abided" by its decisions, he said. But "as I see President Obama's approach of engagement without preconditions we feel would yield results."

Recalling a conversation with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, who visited India last week, he said he "mentioned to me the messages that it (Iran) is receiving from the Obama administration and he was hopeful that would yield constructive results."

"I hope that if that yields productive results that would be for the good of humanity at large," Manmohan Singh said.

Manmohan Singh asks Pakistan to shun terrorism to talk peace

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has offered to resume the peace dialogue with Pakistan, including on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, provided it abjures terrorism and comes to the table with good faith and sincerity.

"My government has invested heavily over the past few years in normalising relations with Pakistan," he said Monday in an address to the Council On Foreign Relations (CFR), a leading US think-tank. 

Recalling that the two countries had "made considerable progress on the road to a durable and permanent settlement of all outstanding issues" before the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks stalled the peace dialogue, Manmohan Singh made a conditional offer to resume the talks. 

"I have said that we are ready to pick up the threads of the dialogue, including on issues related to Jammu & Kashmir," he said noting "We seek a South Asia of peace, friendship and prosperity, where its borders will be energized by the flow of people, goods and ideas." 

"For this to happen, Pakistan must make a break with the past, abjure terrorism and come to the table with good faith and sincerity," the Prime Minister said expressing his "solemn hope that India and Pakistan can together move forward to write a new chapter in the history of the sub-continent."

Noting that the first anniversary of the heinous and barbaric terrorist attacks on Mumbai was three days away, he said: "The trauma of that attack continues to haunt us. Terrorism poses an existential threat to the civilized world and must be defeated."

"We should not harbour any illusions that a selective approach to terrorism, tackling it in one place while ignoring it in others, will work," he said. 

Manmohan pushes for more university linkages

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) A day before India and the US unveil an ambitious initiative on education as part of their next phase of strategic partnership, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for scaling up the cooperation between Indian and American university systems.

"We must work harder to strengthen the university system. We have plans to set up 40 new universities. I see enormous opportunities for the university systems of India and the US to work together," Manmohan Singh said after addressing top Indian and American businessmen at the US Chamber of Commerce. 

The prime minister singled out the deficiency in the quality and quantity of teachers in India as a problem area where enhanced links with America can help. 

"Human resource development is the critical part of our development aspirations," he said. 

"We look forward to more intensified cooperation between Indian and American university systems," Manmohan Singh stressed in response to a question by Rajat Gupta, who broke the ceiling by becoming the first expatriate managing director of multi-national consultancy McKinsey and Company nearly two decades ago. 

Looking beyond the transforming nuclear deal, India and the US are set to unveil the next phase of their strategic partnership by enhancing cooperation in areas ranging from agriculture and education to science and technology, green technologies and health. 

A Singh-Obama Knowledge Initiative - a partnership that will encompass university education, scholarship, technology and knowledge economy and enhance education linkages will be announced after the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama Tuesday. 

Manmohan rolls out red carpet for American investors

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday made a vigorous pitch for attracting more American foreign investment in areas ranging from infrastructure to agriculture and green energy and underlined that no investor is more welcome in India than the investors from the US.

"India today is open for business in almost every sphere of economic activity," Manmohan Singh said after addressing the US India Business Council (USIBC). 

"Hard infrastructure remains a critical bottleneck in our aspiration to achieve 9 per cent growth," he said. 

Manmohan Singh stressed that there is enormous scope for American investments in the development of key infrastructure, including road, rail, airports and ports. 

"We see enormous opportunities. All fields are open for economic participation," he said. 

"No investor is more welcome in India than investors from this great country," Manmohan Singh said in response to a question from David Cote, CEO of Honeywell and the co-chair of the India-US CEOs Forum. 

A day before he sits down for talks with US President Barack Obama, Manmohan Singh unveiled his vision of the India-US partnership that will blend strategic cooperation with intensified economic ties. 

"A strategic relationship that is not underpinned by a strong economic relationship is unlikely to prosper," he said addressing the US India Business Council (USIBC) made up of top US companies investing in India. 

"On the other hand, a web of economic relationships intensifies both business-to-business and people-to-people contacts, promoting a deeper and better understanding between countries." 

"That is the kind of relationship we want with the United States," he said underlining that "India's new and evolving relationship with the United States is in many ways the natural consequence of changes in economic policies and business practices." 

Assuring American business that India will continue down the road for economic reforms and will recover its economic growth rate of nine percent that was dented by the global economic crisis in two years. 

Pitching for greater American investment in areas ranging from infrastructure to agriculture and defence, Manmohan Singh said economic reforms started by India in the 1990s will continue. 

"Wherever I meet businessmen to talk of our plans for the future, the question I am most often asked is whether economic reforms will continue," he said. 

But "you should have no doubt on that score. The economic reforms of the past have brought us advantages and I can assure you that we will continue down the road." 

"We might do it gradually, and in a manner which builds a consensus for change. But I assure you we will persevere," he said. 

The prime minister added that his government will push ahead with key reforms in myriad areas, specially those aimed at bringing the deficit under control while ensuring a strong expansion in investment in infrastructure. 

"Tax reforms, especially the introduction of a Goods and Services Tax, are a very important part of the agenda. So also are financial sector reforms," he said. 

He also assured American business that legal reforms aimed at reducing delays are another priority of his government. 

India, US sign pacts on investment promotion, sharing traditional knowledge

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) India and the US have signed two inter-governmental agreements on traditional knowledge, intellectual property and investment promotion during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's first state visit to the US.

Signed at the US Chamber of Commerce Monday, the first agreement is for a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Access between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 

The second is an MoU between the office of India's Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and the US Patent and Trademark Office, US Department of Commerce. 

The TKDL Access Agreement will enable the USPTO to search the extensive database of India's traditional knowledge compiled under TKDL, a collaborative project between the CSIR and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In addition, the CSIR would provide training to the USPTO examiners and staff to help them use TKDL tools for search and examination. This would help prevent misappropriation of traditional knowledge through mistaken issuance of patents as had earlier happened with neem and haldi. 

The MoU between patent offices of the two countries would facilitate comprehensive bilateral cooperation on a range of IPR issues focusing on capacity building, human resource development and raising public awareness of the importance of IPR. 

Another Memorandum of Intent was signed to promote two-way investments between 'Invest in America' of the US International Trade Administration and 'Invest India', a joint venture of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and various State Governments for the promotion of investment in the US and India.

By facilitating the exchange of information regarding opportunities for investment and about policies related to investment, this MoI seeks to accelerate the growing investment flows in both directions which are benefitting both countries. 

India warns world against premature exit in Afghanistan

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said India and the US can do much more to expand security cooperation and warned the US and international community against any premature exit in Afghanistan that will embolden extremists and destabilise the region.

"The US and India enjoy excellent cooperation in sharing of intelligence. We can't be satisfied with status quo," Manmohan Singh told American businessmen when asked what can India and the US do to strengthen their security cooperation in South Asia. 

"I will explore with the US in the next two days what more we can do," Manmohan Singh said in response to a question after his address to the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-India Business Council (USIBC). 

Expanding security cooperation and the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan will figure prominently in the discussions between Manmohan Singh and Obama Tuesday. 

A pact to craft a new framework for strengthening counter-terror cooperation will be signed after the talks. 

"We greatly welcome and support the international community in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan," the prime minister said. 

Asking the international community to stay engaged in Afghanistan, he warned against plans of any premature exit that has often been speculated with public support in the US for war in Afghanistan declining gradually. 

Premature talk of exit would only embolden terrorists and destabilise the region, he said amid speculation that Obama will announce a troops surge in Afghanistan as part of its new AfPak strategy.

India, US tying up details to make n-deal fully operational: PM

Washington, Nov 23 (IANS) A day before he sits down for talks with US President Barack Obama, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said the two sides are finalising the details of the nuclear deal that will make their landmark atomic agreement "fully operational".

"We are currently finalising the details that will make the agreement fully operational," Manmohan Singh told top American business leaders at a meeting organised at the US Chamber of Commerce here.

Beginning his four-day visit as the first state guest of the Obama White House Monday, Manmohan Singh said he looked forward to his discussions with President Obama Tuesday.

The wide-ranging talks are expected to deepen and diversify strategic partnership between India and the US and assure New Delhi that there has been no cooling off of bilateral ties under the Obama administration. 

Manmohan Singh arrived here Sunday afternoon and was accorded a rousing ceremonial welcome at St. Andrews Air Force Base. 

He thanked the American business community for promoting the landmark nuclear deal and underlined that the completion of the deal, inked in October last year, will open up huge business opportunities for the US companies.

"The nuclear agreement was a landmark in India-US relations and I would like to acknowledge with deep appreciation, the very supportive role American business played in persuading Congress to support the initiative. 

"Once that is done, it will remove restrictions on the flow of technology in nuclear and many other areas," Manmohan Singh said.

"This will open up a large area of commercial opportunities for US business," he added. 

An agreement on reprocessing spent fuel in a dedicated national facility under international safeguards is on the verge of being concluded and is expected to be announced Tuesday after talks between Manmohan Singh and Obama.

The crucial reprocessing agreement will clear the last hurdle in the way of resuming nuclear commerce between India and the US after a gap of thirty four years.

Manmohan Singh shook hands with top American and Indian business leaders and posed for a group photo with American and Indian flags positioned against a navy blue backdrop in the Daniel Webster Room of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Tom Donhue, president of the US chamber of Commerce, and Indira Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi and chairperson of the US India Business Council, were among those present at the event that showcased growing economic ties between the two countries.

Reforms will continue, Manmohan assures US

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) Pitching for greater US investment, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday assured American business that India will continue down the road for economic reforms and will recover its economic growth rate of nine percent in two years.

"India is the second largest of the dynamic emerging economies. Like other emerging economies, we too have been affected by the crisis of 2008," Manmohan Singh told top American and Indian business leaders at a meeting organised by the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-India Business Council (USIBC).

"Our growth has decelerated to 6.7 percent in 2008-09 and will remain at around 6.5 percent in the current year," he said.

Underscoring his optimism about the prospects of the Indian economy, the prime minister stressed that he had many reasons to believe that the Indian economy will resume rapid growth despite the fact that slower growth in industrialised countries will limit Indian exports.

He cited increased domestic savings rate and an investment rate of 39 percent to reinforce his robust growth projections.

Seeking greater American investment in areas ranging from infrastructure to agriculture and defence, Manmohan Singh said economic reforms started by India in the 1990s will continue.

"Wherever I meet businessmen to talk of our plans for the future, the question I am most often asked is whether economic reforms will continue.

"You should have no doubt on that score. The economic reforms of the past have brought us advantages and I can assure you that we will continue down the road," he said.

"We might do it gradually, and in a manner which builds a consensus for change. But I assure you we will persevere," he added.

The prime minister added that his government will push ahead with key reforms in myriad areas, specially those those aimed at bringing the deficit under control while ensuring a strong expansion in investment in infrastructure.

"Tax reforms, especially the introduction of a Goods and Services Tax, are a very important part of the agenda. So also are financial sector reforms," he said.

He also assured American business that legal reforms aimed at reducing delays are another priority of his government. 

India, US set to sign green deal: Manmohan Singh

Washington, Nov 24 (IANS) India and the US are all set to sign a memorandum of understanding on energy security, clean energy and climate change, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Monday while seeking cooperation of American companies in these areas.

"This will provide a framework for pursuing bilateral cooperation in specific areas," he said addressing the US India Business Council (USIBC) made up of top US companies investing in India. 

Noting that these are areas where American companies are leaders in the field, the prime minister said: "We should explore possible areas of cooperation." 

As India works with other countries "to meet the challenge of climate change, we are also addressing the problem domestically through a National Action Plan for climate change, which outlines many new initiatives in energy efficiency, and clean energy," he said. 

The prime minister's announcement was a clear indication that India and the US have substantially bridged differences in their approach towards international climate negotiations at Copenhagen, due in December. 

After the MoU is signed during Tuesday's summit between Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama, a number of collaborative projects are likely to be announced soon, official sources told IANS. 

There is enormous scope for collaboration on green technology and in interlinked areas like energy-efficient green buildings and renewable sources of energy, including solar and wind and bio mass.

The Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran is accompanying Manmohan Singh on this first state visit of the Obama White House where climate change would be high on the agenda.

The new strategy involved India linking up climate change talks with its access to nuclear energy. This new approach is reflected in the determination of the Obama Administration to wrap up a crucial pact for reprocessing spent fuel by the time the US president sits down for talks with his Indian guest.

IANS