India Cautiously Optimistic on Nuclear Deal

Indian officials Friday expressed guarded optimism about the future of the country’s planned nuclear trade deal with the United States, noting that significant issues remain in its development, the New York Times reported (see GSN, Nov. 17).

There is “still a long way to go before nuclear cooperation between India and the U.S. becomes a living reality,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Senate last week approved legislation that would exempt India from nuclear export control laws that ban nuclear trade with nations that have not joined the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.  The House approved a separate version of the bill in July.

The two versions must be reconciled and a final bill approved.  Congress would also have to sign off on the deal itself, along with the international Nuclear Suppliers Group.

“This undoubtedly reflects the very broad bipartisan support which this initiative enjoys,” Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement.  “We must await the final version before drawing any conclusions on the legislation.”

Singh stressed that the ultimate product must be in line with the “mutual commitments” made by New Delhi and Washington in July 2005.  The Senate leadership worked assiduously to prevent “deal-killing” amendments from being attached to the bill, but sticking points might remain.

They include an amendment making the deal contingent upon a determination that India is “fully and actively” participating in efforts to “dissuade, sanction and contain” Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran is a major supplier of energy to India, which has a significant Shiite Muslim population, the Times reported.

“It makes it appear as though we are being required to gang up with the United States against Iran,” said Lalit Mansingh, a former Indian ambassador to the United States.  “It will be politically difficult of the government to accept” (Amelia Gentleman/New York Times, Nov. 17).

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