During a speech to the U.S.-India Business Council, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the relationship between Washington and India needed to be improved. She emphasized the importance of closer cooperation on security, trade, and various other issues. Clinton is scheduled to visit India next month and expressed hope that the two nations could collaborate on global challenges such as climate change and Afghanistan. She highlighted the need for official ties to catch up with the strong people-to-people and economic connections between the two countries. Last year, India and the United States signed a significant civil nuclear deal, ending a 30-year ban on global nuclear commerce with India. The agreement will allow India to obtain nuclear technology and fuel for its reactors from the international market. In order to strengthen their relationship, it is important for Washington and New Delhi to address and overcome lingering uncertainties and mistrust. Concerns exist among some Americans regarding potential job loss and decreased wages with increased economic ties with India, while Indians worry that a closer partnership may go against their country's tradition of independence. Closer economic and trade ties are promised, with negotiations for a bilateral investment treaty set to begin soon to create more opportunities for trade between the two countries. President Obama has emphasized that the United States has learned from past mistakes. She stated that they will not use the global financial crisis as a reason to resort to protectionism. Clinton emphasized the need for increased cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism and improving intelligence-sharing, without going into specifics. She expressed commitment to strengthening India's defense capabilities following the Mumbai attacks, where six Americans lost their lives. Clinton also welcomed the recent meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan, their first talks since the Mumbai attacks, attributed to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group. She expressed confidence that India and the United States would support Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorists within its borders.