IndiaPost.com - US to continue work with India on N-deal

WASHINGTON: Facing timelines, India and the US on March 24 waffled on the civilian nuclear deal with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee saying there is some "political problem" domestically and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asserting Washington will "continue" to work on it. "We are interested in implementing the landmark agreement reached. But now we have some political problem.

Currently we are engaged in the process of resolving them," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after a 30-minute meeting here with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Mukherjee said his government is engaged in discussions with various political parties. Conveying Washington's desire to take the deal forward, Rice said it is a "landmark agreement which is good for both sides....We will continue to work on that agreement." On negotiations with the IAEA on India-specific safeguards agreement, Mukherjee said the discussions are over.

"The agreement is yet to be initialed and approved by the board of governors of the IAEA." India needs to firm up the agreement with the IAEA and secure changes in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) to enable nuclear commerce with it. The Left parties, stoutly opposing the deal in its present form, have threatened to withdraw support to the government if steps were taken to operationalise it.

The US has nudged India into concluding the agreement with the IAEA and seek NSG waiver by May to give the Congress time to have a final vote on the deal. During his recent visit to India, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said time was "very tight" and there is lot of work to be done. The Left parties have also raised concerns over the Hyde Act, which they feel would restrict India's strategic nuclear program.

Washington, on the other hand, has made it clear that the "domestic" legislation would have to be taken into account in operation of the civil nuclear cooperation. Concerns were heightened after Rice said last month that changes in the NSG guidelines will have to be "completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act". She had said that Washington would not support India's case if it was contrary to the Hyde Act.