Rao meets Clinton, Jones; conveys India’s concerns on H1B issue

• India has conveyed its concerns to the U.S. over the H1B visa fee hike and exchanged views on issues like UNSC expansion and nuclear liability bill during Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's talks with top American officials focussing on President Barack Obama's November visit to the country.

• The Indian delegation is also understood to have brought to the notice of the U.S. officials the recent Pakistani statements on Kashmir as it was an internal matter of India, continued infiltration into Kashmir, the issue of cross-border terrorism and painfully slow progress in bringing to book those responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

• During the meetings, U.S. officials are believed to have praised constructive Indian role in Afghanistan and urged New Delhi to "step-up" its cooperation in the war-torn country.

• India, on the other hand, expressed concern that any "U.S. exit" from Afghanistan at this point of time or even in the near future would strengthen the terrorist organisations and extremist elements in the region, which it feels would not be good for the security of the United States, European countries and India as well.The issue of increased
  

• assertiveness of China in the Indian Ocean and Asia was also discussed during these meetings.