NEW DELHI, Feb 25: The United States said on Saturday it still had differences with India on finalising a landmark nuclear deal, but both sides were trying to sew up the pact before President George W. Bush visits New Delhi next week.

The US embassy statement came after Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns left New Delhi after three days of talks with Indian officials over the civilian nuclear pact signed last July in Washington by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“There are remaining differences but the US hopes that they can be closed before the president visits India,” the embassy in New Delhi said.

The deal, agreed to in principle, would give nuclear-armed India access to long-denied US nuclear equipment and fuel to meet its soaring energy needs.

But it has hit obstacles as the United States insists that a plan to separate India’s civilian and nuclear facilities, on which the deal rests, must be credible and transparent to prevent proliferation.

India’s powerful nuclear establishment is uneasy about details of the civilian and military separation plan, especially Washington’s desire to see a large chunk of India’s 22 nuclear reactors placed under international safeguards.

“Both sides want to work it out and you need patience and to let the negotiators work it out,” an US embassy spokesman told Reuters late on Friday.

Ties between India and US have improved, especially after New Delhi was quick to back the US-war on terror after the Sept 11 attacks. Many US firms have business process outsourcing and information technology firms in India, underlying the growing economic cooperation between the two nations.—Reuters