Indo-US nuclear deal - US should remain committed

At the recent Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG) meeting, the US proposal seeking blanket exemption to India from the 45-member Nuclear Supplier’s Group for procuring nuclear fuel and hi-tech nuclear components/technology has run into rough weather. The issue will again be taken up in the NSG meeting to be held on September 4, 2008. The NSG may impose additional conditions which may not find favor with India. The responsibility now rests with American Administration to get the existing draft approved in the next NSG meeting without any compromise from Indian side.

Meantime, it is reported that a new NSG waiver draft is being worked out, keeping in perspective the concerns expressed by some of the NSG countries. The concerns seem to be: the status of the deal in case of any more nuclear weapons tests; transfer of reprocessing and enrichment technology to India, and periodic review of the waiver conditions, which may be seen as “intrusive” or discriminatory by India.

How India is going to manoeuvre the deal through this “conditions” is to be seen. Will there be enough time for getting the deal endorsed finally by the US Congress which begins its session September 8, 2008. US presidential pool is fast approaching and India expects that the US should stand committed to complete all the formalities pertaining to the deal, even after the presidential election.