Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State, arrived in New Delhi on 18 July to attend the second round of Indo-US strategic dialogue. Clinton is accompanied by a large delegation including top US counter-terrorism officials such as Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper and Deputy Secretary, Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute.
Clinton will have separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon, and several senior political leaders.
Counter-terrorism, civilian nuclear cooperation and the volatile situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected to figure prominently in the strategic dialogue scheduled for 19 July in New Delhi. Both countries will discuss various issues including strategic cooperation, energy and climate change, education, science and technology, health and defence. The Indian delegation would include Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Adviser to the prime minister Sam Pitroda, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Foreign Secretary-designate Ranjan Mathai, etc.
Indian Intelligence Bureau chief Nehchal Sandhu and US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper will make presentations on intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism cooperation.
The visit assumes significance as it comes days after India’s business capital Mumbai was hit by triple bomb blasts.