Indian foreign minister to meet with U.S.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon says he'll discuss events in Pakistan and India's civilian nuclear development in meetings with U.S. officials.

Menon is expected to meet Monday with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns in Washington against the backdrop of an upcoming vote by the the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group on whether to allow India a waiver to conduct civilian nuclear commerce, the Press Trust of India reported Saturday.

Menon's meetings in Washington and the NSG vote are coincidental, with Menon's trip planned months ago, Indian government sources told the Press Trust.

"It is not just limited to the civilian nuclear initiative," one said. "Several other issues will be discussed including what is happening around India."

One of those issues is likely to be Pakistan, where the discussion will probably center around the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf and the escalating violence in the disputed Indian state of Kashmir.