U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns held discussions with Indian Foreign Secretary Shayam Saran on Thursday and Friday, ahead of President Bush's long-awaited visit. The pair examined the civilian nuclear energy pact signed last July by the two countries, which aims to provide India with U.S. nuclear equipment and fuel to meet rising energy needs.

The deal is contingent on India's credible and transparent separation of its civilian and military nuclear programs, a matter that has sparked the ire of some of India's top scientists.

Even after having extensive talks on the controversial nuclear deal, differences on the issue remained unresolved.

"We simply don't know whether we will have an agreement before President Bush's visit. We are trying our best", Burns said, adding, "Both of us want to complete these negotiations but there are still some remaining differences between us and those differences need to be worked out".

The fast breeder program, which employs rapid fuel producing nuclear reactors, is the bedrock of India's strategic weapons program and reportedly dominated two-day talks. Indian representatives tried their best to make Burns understand how the geo-political situation in South Asia compels New Delhi not to put its nuclear weapons program on the civilian list.

"The government has made it clear to the U.S. that both countries needed to work in the framework of the July 18, 2005 joint statement and in strict conformity with the reciprocal commitments contained therein", said junior Indian Foreign Minister Anand Sharma.

He said India was engaged in difficult and complex talks with Washington.

"The sensitive nature of the ongoing talks and the internationally accepted practices of diplomatic negotiations are being taken into account in approaching this issue", Sharma said.

The Indian government is faced with domestic resistance to the nuclear deal in the run up to Bush's three-day visit to India beginning March 1, as top nuclear experts in the country insist the pact will compromise its defense capabilities.

"It would not be in India's strategic interest to place the fast breeder reactors program in the civilian list", said Anil Kakodkar, head of the Department of Atomic Energy.

He stressed that to maintain long-term energy security and a minimum credible deterrent, the fast breeder program cannot be placed on the civilian list.

"This would amount to getting shackled and India certainly cannot compromise one for (the) other", Kakodkar said, adding that claims the scientific community is being kept in the dark about the nuclear agreement are false.

India is hesitant to place the entirety of its military nuclear program on the civilian list, as nuclear-armed rival Pakistan straddles its western border.

"With... nuclear armed neighbors, the Indian public opinion will not agree to the dilution of the nuclear capabilities on military side", Sahay said.

He said the U.S. should take into account that India's fast breeder technologies are a consequence of its nuclear weapon program. He also noted the realization in New Delhi that the U.S. is not pushing to curb India's minimum credible nuclear deterrent.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday described the meeting between Burns and Saran as "fruitful".

Despite setbacks, both sides appear determined for improve and reinforce bilateral relations between the world's two largest democracies.

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