U.S. Sets Deadline on Indian Nuclear Deal

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher yesterday called on the Indian government to close debate over its planned nuclear trade deal with the United States “by the end of May,” the New York Times reported (see GSN, March 5).

That schedule would give U.S lawmakers time to consider the agreement before Congress adjourns for the summer, Boucher said.

“We are kind of playing in overtime,” Boucher said in New Delhi.  “There’s a lot of work, not a lot of time.” 

The agreement would make U.S. nuclear power plant fuel and technology available to India even though New Delhi has tested nuclear weapons and has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.  India, in turn, would open its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspectors.

The deal appeared to be stalled by opposition in India, including from communist political parties key that provide key support for the ruling government.  Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, though, has recently suggested his administration was preparing for early elections that would take place if communist lawmakers follow through on their threat to withdraw their backing if he moves to implement the deal.

In apparent attempts to shore up voter support, New Delhi last week released a budget proposal that contained tax breaks, waived farmers’ debts, and expanded funding for public education and other social services.  The government slashed train fares two weeks ago (Somini Sengupta, New York Times, March 6).

Meanwhile, four U.S. nuclear proliferation experts critical of the deal yesterday urged the Bush administration to disclose commentary on the agreement provided to lawmakers on condition that it not be made public, Reuters reported.

A statement released by Daryl Kimball, Fred McGoldrick, Henry Sokolski and Sharon Squassoni called the secrecy condition “a virtual ‘gag’ order.”

“The administration's responses [to congressional questions] should be made publicly available so that U.S. and Indian lawmakers and the public can evaluate whether the draft U.S.-Indian accord conforms to the terms and conditions established by Congress,” Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, said in the statement.

“The administration's unwillingness to make their answers more widely available suggests they have something to hide from either U.S. or Indian legislators,” he said.

The Bush administration might be concerned that disclosing its answers might complicate negotiations to approve the pact in India, said Jon Wolfsthal, a nonproliferation analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“But even if that is the case, it would raise concerns,” he said (Arshad Mohammed, Reuters, March 5).

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