At least that was the impression one got after hearing the Indian version of the talks following a two-and-a-half hour meeting between Acting Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and BJP leader and special envoy Jaswant Singh, an event which both sides described in standard diplomatese as a frank and cordial exchange of views.

More importantly, the two sides agreed to continue their dialogue at a venue and time to be decided shortly through diplomatic channels. Indian ambassador Naresh Chandra said the renewed talks may be seen as an elevation of the strategic dialogue the two sides were having at the official level before it was disrupted by India's nuclear tests.

US officials too acknowledged that the two sides had a goodmeeting and everyone came out looking happy. Both sides were tight-lipped -- through a mutual agreement it seemed -- about the precise content of Fridays talks, except to issue an informal communique which addressed the length of the meeting and spoke of a constructive discussion covering the entire range of issues of mutual concern to India and the United States including non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as the international situation. But parsing the statement and hearing Singh's general disquisition suggested that while several areas of disagreement remained and the two sides were not exactly falling over each other to kiss and make up, there was a respectful and useful exchange of views. Significantly, there was no reference at all in the statement to Pakistan, Kashmir, or -- the new state department bogey -- underlying tensions in the region. If the US buffeted India with its concerns on non-proliferation (don't test; don't weaponise; don't deploy), New Delhi responded with its concerns aboutdisarmament (how about everyone getting rid of nuclear weapons?).

Singh himself said he was entirely satisfied with the talks and the Indian position on various issues was much better understood.

Singh would not respond to repeated and specific questions about whether he raised the issue of the Clinton administration virtually appointing China as an arbiter of disputes in South Asia, other than to state India's general position on the matter. But indications were that he did convey India's opposition to such a move. It is not possible for India to work on a thesis of any kind (which gives) a supervisory or mediatory role for China in South Asia, more particularly with reference to Jammu and Kashmir, Singh told reporters at a briefing at the Indian Embassy after the talks.

The Indian special envoy put a different spin on the Clinton administration's cosying up to China, saying perhaps the US President had chosen to give voice to his interpretation of his forthcoming visit and to recent developments inSouth Asia.

``I respect his persuasion, even if I find it not possible to agree with each and every persuasion,'' Singh said. Asked if the US had pressured India not to weaponise its nuclear capability, Singh referred to the statement and said addressing each others concerns -- as the statement said they did -- was not tantamount to resiling from any position. ``We have done the minimum essential in pursuance of our national security,'' he added.. Evidently, the dialogue also covered the issue of sanctions, judging by presense at the talks of Matt Daley, a former deputy chief of mission in New Delhi under Frank Wisner, who was especially drafted to handle the nitty-gritty of the economic impact. It seems apparent that Washington will now handle sanctions in such a way as to cause the minimum damage to its own business interests, even as it pursues a tough line in multilateral fora.

But Singh himself skirted questions about sanctions saying he had not come to raise questions about the US legal system andit was an internal matter for Washington to decide. The US team at today's talks was also represented by Bruce Riedel, who is the South Asia advisor attached to the National Security Council. Jaswant Singh was accompanied by Ambassador Naresh Chandra and the Joint Secretary Alok Prasad who handles America.

That the talks had gone off well and some of the oppressive burden of reserve, if not outright hostility had lifted was evident at a reception later in the evening at the Indian ambassador's residence where the guests included Senator Charles Robb, former Presidential candidate Bob Dole and his wife Elizabeth Dole and former Senator Larry Pressler. The administration though was thinly represented.

Significantly, Robb said he understood the Indian position much better now than at the start of the brouhaha, although he was still not convinced of India's need to test.