US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this morning. He is holding talks with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. Terrorism, H-1B visas, trade, India's arms deal with Russia and the situation arising out of the US sanctions on buying oil from Iran, will be among the key issues that the two leaders will discuss. Mr Pompeo's visit is the first high-level visit from any country after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stunning victory in the national election. The visit comes ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and PM Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Japan's Osaka this week. Mr Pompeo also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
On US opposition to India's $5 billion deal for acquiring S-400 missile system from Russia, sources said despite the threat of US sanctions, New Delhi will point out that the US has a law that offers a way out. India's stance will be made clear to Mr Pompeo during his visit.
A key issue expected to come up in the discussion is the US tension with Iran. While Indian oil companies have stopped imports to avoid sanctions, diplomatic sources say an official decision has to be taken and that India will discuss the alternative sources of oil in today's talks.
Another topic that is likely to figure high in the talks is the H-1B issue with an American official saying Mike Pompeo will assure India that the Trump administration has no plans to impose a cap on issuing the highly sought-after H-1B visas that are forcing foreign companies to store data locally.
Mike Pompeo will also interact with Indian and US businesses at a round table meet and deliver a policy speech at the India International Centre in Delhi this evening.
On US opposition to India's $5 billion deal for acquiring S-400 missile system from Russia, sources said despite the threat of US sanctions, New Delhi will point out that the US has a law that offers a way out. India's stance will be made clear to Mr Pompeo during his visit.
A key issue expected to come up in the discussion is the US tension with Iran. While Indian oil companies have stopped imports to avoid sanctions, diplomatic sources say an official decision has to be taken and that India will discuss the alternative sources of oil in today's talks.
Another topic that is likely to figure high in the talks is the H-1B issue with an American official saying Mike Pompeo will assure India that the Trump administration has no plans to impose a cap on issuing the highly sought-after H-1B visas that are forcing foreign companies to store data locally.
Mike Pompeo will also interact with Indian and US businesses at a round table meet and deliver a policy speech at the India International Centre in Delhi this evening.
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