Boucher coming, talks on nuke deal tomorrow

NEW DELHI: In the aftermath of the American Congressional polls, India and the US will have high level discussions on the future of the civil nuclear deal when visiting Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher meets officials on Friday.

Boucher is expected to hold talks with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The two sides are likely to have deliberations on the fate of the legislation on the civil nuclear deal that is yet to be considered by the Senate. Uncertainty has surrounded the bill as the Republicans have lost majority in the Senate in the Congressional elections held on Wednesday.

Besides the nuclear deal, the issue of terrorism is expected to figure in the discussions the US official, in-charge of South Asian affairs, will have.

The two sides are also expected to discuss issues relating to the region, including developments in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Boucher will travel to Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan before returning here next week to attend the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference in New Delhi on November 17 and 18.