(a) whether the U.S. has indicated its intention of removing the remaining sanctions that are in place;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the precise nature and extent of sanctions including the impediments presented thereby at present, entity-wise and item-wise?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Since entering office in January 2001, the new U.S. Administration has conveyed on a number of occasions, both in bilateral meetings and publicly, that it has initiated the review process for lifting the remaining sanctions against India, including through consultations with the United States Congress.
(c) The United States Government continues to maintain restrictions on U.S. support for non-basic humanitarian loans by international financial institutions to India; on military sales and financing; on export of defence goods, services and technology; and, on export of certain goods and technology on the Commodity Control List of the U.S. Export Administration Rules (EAR), commonly described as `dual use` goods and technology.
The United States Government follows a policy of denial of licences for exports to India of `dual use` goods and technology, which the United States controls for nuclear proliferation and missile technology. In addition, for a specific group of Indian Government organisations, defence establishments, research institutions, public sector units and private companies, and their subsidiary bodies, which the United States considers to be involved in the Indian nuclear and missile programmes, the United States Government also follows a policy of denial of licence to export goods controlled for national security reasons There are currently over 150 such units on the so-called Entity List of the United States.