The Indo-US civil nuclear deal will not be held 'hostage' to India signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made it clear on Saturday.
'No. Not at all,' Clinton said in an interview to Times Now TV channel when asked if the deal would be held hostage to India signing the treaty.
'I worked very hard for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. I am very committed to its full implementation,' she affirmed.
However, she said that during her discussions with Indian leadership in New Delhi starting on Sunday she would explore how India could help the US to ensure that nuclear material and knowledge is kept out of rogue states and non-state actors.
She said she would also like to find out 'what is the appropriate non-proliferation programme for the future. India has the capacity to determine where it wants to go in this particular area'.
Ruling out any role for the US as a 'broker' between India and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue, she said 'the decision has to be between India and Pakistan and it must take into account the feeling of people of Kashmir.'
Cooperation in healthcare servicesAmerica will work to meet health challenges facing India among other countries and will have a comprehensive dialogue to improve maternal and child healthcare services, Hillary said.
"US has announced a large commitment to global healthcare policy. Our government is already spending a lot of money on HIV/AIDS but we wanted to add maternal and child health to that commitment as it is important for India," Clinton said.
"Commitment was also in eradication of infectious diseases like Tuberculosis (TB) and Polio which are also problems in India," she said after visiting a Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA)'s trade outlet in Mumbai.
"We are trying to work with our counterparts in India on these and will have a comprehensive dialogue in solving some of these healthcare challenges," she said.
Regarding healthcare services for women in SEWA, the NGO's general secretary Jyoti Macwan said they train health workers to take good care of the women and children in places of their network and also work in government programmes.
"We are also trying to push for Social Security Bill in India so that women can get maternity leave and other benefits," she said.
