Nuclear deal with US not too onerous, says India
India has asserted that commitments given by it are exactly what other nuclear weapon states have accepted.
Highly satisfied with the US decision to lift sanctions imposed on it 31 years ago in the wake of Pokhran nuclear tests, India has asserted that commitments given by it in return were not "too onerous" and were exactly what other nuclear weapon states had accepted.
Recognition of India as a "responsible state with advanced nuclear technology" by President George Bush and his decision to supply fuel for nuclear reactors at Tarapur as outlined in the joint statement issued after his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here yesterday is seen by the Indian side as an implicit acceptance of New Delhi's nuclear weapons status.
"What has been achieved is recognition by the US that, for all practical purposes, India should have the same benefits and rights as a nuclear weapons state." Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said at a media briefing on the outcome of Manmohan-Bush discussions on Tuesday.
The reciprocal obligations undertaken by India such as separating its civilian and military nuclear facilities and voluntarily placing the former under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were "no more or no less" than those committed to by any other nuclear weapons state, he said.
Saran maintained at dismantling of restrictive regimes to which India was subjected since the 1974 nuclear test and the decision to supply fuel for Tarapur was "a major breakthrough".
It was also recognition of "India coming of age", he said adding this would enable New Delhi to shop for fuel not only for Tarapur but for other civilian reactors too.
Any apprehensions that the obligations accepted by India in return were "too onerous" would be a "misperception," Saran told a questioner, adding India would never accept conditions unacceptable to others.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the discussions between Singh and Bush and their outcome marked a transformation of bilateral ties.
The Foreign Secretary said the joint statement represented a "very substantive and significant outcome".
The outcome of talks between the US President and Manmohan had "exceeded our expectations", Saran said adding the two leaders enjoyed excellent personal chemistry.
Terrorism was high among the wide range of topics covered by the two leaders who met in the wake of the recent terrorist strikes in Ayodhya and London.
They emphasised that terrorism posed a global challenge and it should be fought everywhere.
The Indian side does not appear to be unduly perturbed by the US stand on expansion of the UN Security Council. There is admission of differences on this issue but Indians have noted that the US has repeatedly stated that New Delhi has to play a central role in world affairs.
