Indo-US Nuclear deal

With the left parties in the Indian government changing their views on nuclear deal on daily basis, it is now doubtful whether the deal will finally come through or not. Time is the deciding factor since the fate of both the governments in USA and in India lasting beyond their present term is in doubt. The issue of India-specific safeguards with IAEA needs to be finalized (5th round of talks just started) to obtain a green signal from the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group for operationalising the deal.

How the new contenders to occupy the White House view India is not very clear. Senator Hillary Clinton may be unpredictable. Barack Obama remains a strong opponent of ending nuclear sanctions against India. He may call for redrafting the whole nuclear pact and try to curb nuclear independence in issues such as nuclear tests and reprocessing of the spent fuel from the reactors. However, the Republican Party candidate McCain may continue to support the nuclear deal if elected.

It is now or never says David Mulford, US Ambassador. The Indian high profile Ambassdor to the US, Rohen Sen also reported to have got one-year extension indicating that the present UPA government in India hasn't given up hopes on the nuclear deal.

Hence, the best option is to push the nuclear deal through before President Bush steps down. He is the best supporter of India. This is the opportunity for India to get out of the nuclear isolation India has faced for over three decades. Countries such as Russia and France will be too willing to support India by ending the nuclear sanctions once the US-India deal comes through. India also will have so many choices to get its nuclear supplies. For strategic reasons, China may oppose the deal as is evident from the opposition faced by the ruling government by the Left parties for operationalising the nuclear deal.