Three days before the NSG meets to decide on an exemption for India in the context of the Indo-US nuclear deal, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns will be in India to hold talks with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.

Burns is expected here on August 18 while the NSG takes up India’s case at a plenary meet on August 21-22. It is further learnt that the Ministry of External Affairs has decided to postpone its conference of Indian heads of missions posted across the world, which was planned for August 20-22. This has been done so that key ambassadors are in their respective capitals to lean on NSG member countries while the grouping takes up the issue.

India has given its consent to the US draft exemption note after Washington dropped a reference to working towards comprehensive safeguards in India. New Delhi was of the view that though prescriptive, this portion was not in line with the July 18, 2005, joint statement between both countries.

The draft is now with Germany, which has already started the exercise of circulating it among member countries. Burns’ visit, officials said, will help build the climate for coordinated diplomacy by both countries at the NSG where India is likely to be invited.

Throughout the last few weeks, starting with the days prior to the IAEA board of governors meet, Menon and Burns have remained in constant touch. In fact, they met last month in Vienna. Burns was expected to visit India then, but decided to postpone it.

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