Significantly, President Obama is making his maiden visit to India during his first term unlike his predecessors Clinton and Bush who did so during their second term. To be fair to him, Obama also hosted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as his first State guest in 2009 November with all fanfare.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao's trip to Washington this week to work out the details of the presidential visit is significant. There is eagerness to show case the achievements on both sides in taking the Indo-US relations forward. Foggy Bottom is also keen to take it to a new level of strategic partnership and to make Obama's visit as a “milestone“ of these emerging ties. It is no secret that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to make the visit a historic one.

However, there are some irritants, which need to be removed before the visit. How far the two sides can indulge in give and take attitude depends on a lot of things; Nirupama Rao had conveyed New Delhi's concerns at a hectic round of meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, White House National Security Advisor James Jones and other senior administration officials. In return they too raised some issues of concern.

First of all, there is a perception that George Bush cared more for India than Obama. This is strengthened by the fact that it was Obama who recently signed the Border Security Bill, which seeks to increase the visa fees categories of H1 B and L1 to fund border security. This has come as a rude shock to most Indian companies and they suspect that they would become the scapegoats for curbing illegal immigration, which is causing great concern for the US authorities.

The second concern is about outsourcing. It is no secret that India is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the American and European outsourcing in the IT sector. Recently, Obama had announced in Ohio that tax cut would be given only to those US companies, which do not outsource. This measure is to provide more jobs for Americans but it would be a big setback for the Indian companies, which get business from the US. As the US is moving towards increased protectionism, India is also examining whether there is any violation of the WTO agreement on services. This has been taken up during commerce minister Anand Sharma's visit this week to Washington.

The third concern is the high tech transfer to India. There is ban on high tech transfer after the Pokhran test and as the Indo-US relations improved in recent years, there was relaxation of most of these items but New Delhi has been demanding for further relaxation, insisting that the US must dismantle the technology denial guidelines against India.

Other irritants are like the recent Pakistani statements on Kashmir, 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. The other problem is Pakistan's role in Afghanistan and how some Pakistani based groups are promoting terror.

Both Washington and New Delhi would like to announce one big-ticket item during the visit. Growing support for a permanent seat for India in the UN Security Council would no doubt go a long way. A US declaration of support for India could not only bolster its chances of permanent membership of the Security Council but also accelerate the UN reform process. So far the Americans have not committed themselves in public except making vague statements unlike some other countries, which have given open support.

New Delhi also has concerns that any 'US exit' from Afghanistan at this point of time or even in the near future would strengthen the terrorist organizations 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.

The US, on its part is keen to sign at least three defence agreements with India. The US maintains that India needs to act on three draft agreements: the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA); the Communication Interoperability and Security Agreement (CISMOA); and the Basic Change and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA). Pentagon would like to put these agreements in place when Defence Minister A.K. Antony visits Washington later this month. Washington would also like India to buy more defence equipments, conduct meaningful joint exercises and more high profile visits from India' armed personnel.

The US has concerns over the nuclear liability bill. Rao conveyed that while India was willing to discuss and address the suppliers' concerns, the legislation was consistent with the international nuclear liability convention.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna should utilize their visit to the US this month to further India's interests in their interaction with their counterparts. While the Obama visit is not considered as a make or break visit, it is important in improving the bilateral relations to a new high. After all when the President of the United States visits India it simply cannot be without substance or “deliverables” and that is what both New Delhi and Washington want. The visit should be a great opportunity for serious Indo-US engagement and not a mere public display of bonhomie. (IPA Service)