India's industry bodies are seeking clarification on US president Barack Obama's seemingly protectionist remarks about stopping tax benefits for companies that outsource work overseas.

CII, FICCI, and Nasscom are believed to be engaged in talks with the US government following the President's call.

"We have to wait and see how it is implemented. There is confusion on what he meant and we are waiting for clarifications," said Krish Gopalakrishnan, MD&CEO, Infosys, on the sidelines of the CII event on Friday.  

He added that this is a challenge that the industry needs to face collectively. "Protectionism will only prolong downturn and governments are aware that they shouldn't raise protectionism."

Islamabad, Feb. 28: The precarious political situation in Pakistan following the Sharif brothers' disqualification, and the increasing influence of the Taliban, has prompted the Obama administration to maintain a strict vigil on Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

Several serving and retired US officials have claimed that Washington has appointed special officers to look after Islamabad's nukes, to ensure that they don't fall into the hands of militant groups such as the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

United Nations, Feb. 28: The Obama administration is unlikely to attend an upcoming U. N. conference on racism, as it is keen to ease friction with Israel.

Israel has asked the Obama administration to join its boycott of the conference, scheduled for April 20-24 in Geneva. Some Jewish groups have said they were worried that the tone of the meeting would be similar to the 2001 conclave that discussed Zionism as a form of racism.

American diplomats have been unsuccessful in trying to change the language offensive on Israel and other countries, a senior U. S. official said Friday.

The apparent decision is aimed at ensuring the success of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton first official visit to the Middle East next week.

Washington, Feb. 27: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the US reservations on Sharia deal in Swat have been removed.

"There was an allegation that we are actually collaborating with the Taliban and we also had reservations in connection with US presence in Afghanistan. I am returning to Pakistan with a new hope," The News quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Lahore, Feb. 27: A day after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood claimed that he had asked Washington to let Islamabad handle the drone attacks on militant hideouts inside its territory, the United States has said that the issue of drone attacks was not discussed with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani.

Talking to mediapersons after holding talks with General Kayani, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said: "The issue of drone attacks inside Pakistan did not come under discussion during the meeting."

General Kayani also met the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Mike Mullen.

Mullen said that the talks helped US to understand the intricacies of the Swat peace deal.

New Delhi, Feb 27: The United States and China have resumed their defence dialogue with a two-day mid-level talk in Beijing, setting the tone for bilateral military ties between the two countries.

Analysts expected both sides to discuss their security concerns, the core interests of which remain distinct, while trying to draft a timeline for formally recommencing military exchanges.

The exchanges were halted last October, following a proposal to sell 6.5 billion dollars of arms to Taiwan by the Bush Administration, the China Daily reported.