>> hello, and welcome to newsweek south asia. in this weeks episode, the prime minister will hold crucial talks with obama on security.

the taliban will regain power after the u.s. retreats says a cleric. and now for the details. the prime minister will be meeting u.s. president barack obama this week in washington. the agenda is packed as both countries are close to signing a new pact. world leaders are expected to discuss security cooperation and regional issues. the meeting is already overshadowed by reports of the indian government diluting the liability law for nuclear energy. the government has denied it. the report of dilution of the nuclear liability bill by the government of india to favor us- based firms interested in nuclear deals is false.

the indian prime minister's stated this in new delhi. the indian media had reported that prior to the visit of the indian prime minister to the united states to attend this year's session. in the course of his visit, he would also meet the u.s. president, barack obama. the media diverted attention. the diluted version of the bill will overlook security concerns that would hold foreign reactors liable in the event of faulty equipment. the indian government said it would always be firm on its stand in the interest of the country. >> we have stood our ground and we have said that whatever we have done by way of position the

parliament has taken, there is no question of retreating from it. we have been convinced and tried to convince them that whatever the basis of our agreement, there is adequate scope for them to get the protection they legitimately deserve. >> us-based nuclear vendors such as westinghouse have negotiated extensively with washington and new delhi to have this provision removed. in 2010, the indian parliament opened up the country's nuclear power market, creating legislation crucial for the entry of u.s. firms like general electric and westinghouse. since then, u.s. countries have been waiting for the easing of indian norms which can harm the interests of the vendor.

the prime minister shared his views in the capital. he noticed that the diluting of laws to facilitate american firms could result in higher costs of generating power on account of several factors, like insurance. >> the united states is supplying the reactor for the simple reason that insurance and other costs are going up. because of this laws, the end is going to be extremely expensive. >> i would also -- india will also take part in the u.n. general assembly. in 2010, barack obama had endorsed india's long-held demand for a permanent seat on the u.n. security council, a

reflection of the asian countries growing global reach and is a challenge to china. at present, the u.n. general assembly begins on the 20th of september. >> the expansion of the un security council, the permanent membership, continues to remain an important priority for india. the prime minister would the -- would be taking up this issue with key leaders, including at the u.n. general assembly. >> the indian prime minister would meet the u.s. president on the 27th of september in washington, and the pullout of troops from afghanistan could dominate the agenda. the prime minister is visiting

the united states from thursday, september 26th to monday, september 30. the prime minister will meet president obama on september 27th at the white house in washington, d.c. i, which has invested billions of dollars in afghanistan since the taliban was ousted from power, fears that the taliban will come back to power when the united states withdraws its troops at the end of 2014. arch rivals india and pakistan have long waged a power difference in afghanistan. many see this struggle intensifying after the

withdrawal of most international forces by the end of next year. world leaders are also likely to discuss regulations with regard to issuing visas to skilled, nonimmigrant workers, which is a cause of concern in new delhi. >> we are trying to flag the fact that some aspects of the proposed immigration reform would adversely impact visas for highly skilled nonimmigrant workers. >> india has protested against a u.s. law from 2010 that has doubled visa fees for skilled workers, saying it is a violation of global trade commitments. while world leaders discuss the unraveling situation in afghanistan, one cleric told

reuters that the taliban will regain power once the united states drawdown completes. the prediction by the pro- taliban cleric has raised concerns among the international community over the uncertainty and threats in afghanistan. >> a radical pakistani cleric known as the father of the taliban predicts the taliban will regain power in afghanistan once u.s. forces leave. while he is revered in pakistan and afghanistan where his views carry enormous weight among the taliban