India cautiously welcomes US nuclear deal approval

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India welcomed on Thursday the U.S.
House of Representatives’ initial approval of a landmark
civilian nuclear cooperation deal but said the accord had a
long way to go before it was fully sealed.

The U.S. chamber approved the controversial deal with an
overwhelming 359-68 vote on Wednesday. Lawmakers rejected
amendments that aimed to put limits on India’s nuclear weapons
program.

Under the deal, India will get access to U.S. nuclear fuel
and equipment — barred so far as New Delhi has not signed the
nuclear non-proliferation treaty and conducted nuclear tests —
to meet its soaring energy needs.

However, it also needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate
and a vote is not expected until September. The House and
Senate would vote again after negotiations on the technical
details of the agreement are completed.

India must also complete negotiations with the
International Atomic Energy Agency on a system of inspections
for its civilian nuclear sites and the 45-nation Nuclear
Suppliers Group must change its regulations to allow nuclear
transfers to India.

An aide to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there
was rejoicing in the government over the House vote.

But Singh said the U.S. legislative process was still on
and New Delhi remained concerned about some aspects of the deal
which are seen as trying to impose curbs on India’s nuclear
program.

The deal has been strongly criticized by the
non-proliferation lobby in the United States. Experts say the
agreement would allow India to produce nuclear weapons easily
because it frees its domestic atomic supplies for military use.

SENATE HURDLE

It has also been attacked in India with supporters of
Singh’s government, as well as the opposition, accusing New
Delhi of submitting to tough conditions imposed by Washington
and compromising its nuclear security.

“All I can say is if the United States’ legislative process
leads to an end product which is not consistent with what we
have committed, that would be the determining factor of what we
will do next,” Singh told parliament.

“It is for the United States government to ensure that …
what is contemplated is within the parameters of the July 18
statement,” he said, referring to a 2005 pact with President
George W. Bush when the deal was first agreed in principle.

Analysts said Wednesday’s vote in support of the deal
reflected the strong efforts by the U.S. administration and New
Delhi in convincing Congressmen about the pact’s benefits.

“At a political level, the importance of India has been
acknowledged and we can see it in this vote,” said C. Raja
Mohan, strategic affairs editor at the Indian Express
newspaper.

“The vote is an extraordinary demonstration of huge
bipartisan political support for the deal in the United
States.”

The next approval process, though, could be tougher.

“The bill still has to be passed by the Senate and that is
where the challenge will be as that is where all the
non-proliferation advocates are,” said R.R. Subramanian, an
independent nuclear expert.