With the Indo-US nuclear deal entering the last lap, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be here on October 3 on a day-long visit, during which the two sides are expected to sign the 123 agreement.
Originally, she had said she would be able to spend only the morning in India as she would also have to visit Pakistan during that visit. Unwilling to share time with Pakistan, the Indian government had suggested she defer her visit to October 14. However, indications are strong that she would choose to come here on October 3.
She had suggested October 5 as the date for her visit, but Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee would not be free then — he has to be in his ancestral village to preside as the main priest for durga puja.
Rice, whose visit has been pending for over a year, will hold talks with Mukherjee on bilateral and regional issues.
The two leaders may also sign the 123 agreement, if it gets the expected clearance from the US Congress by then, sources said here today.
The agreement was earlier expected to be signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush during the former’s visit to Washington on Thursday.
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However, it could not materialise as the Congressional nod got delayed due to procedures.
Prior to Rice’s visit, Mukherjee will be in New York from tomorrow on a four-day visit. He will attend the ongoing UN General Assembly, besides meeting leaders of some countries.