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US urged not to seek N-deal revisions
India has cautioned US lawmakers that any revision would disturb the "very delicate balance" between two nations.
India urged lawmakers not to seek changes in the historic Indo-US nuclear deal, now before Congress for approval.
It has cautioned them that any revision would disturb the "very, very delicate balance" that emerged out of complex negotiations between the two countries.
After meeting key US lawmakers to drum up support for the deal, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran expressed the hope that if the concerns raised by the Congressmen were successfully met and answered "I think the deal should go ahead as it is."
"What has emerged out of these negotiations (between India and the US) is a very, very delicate balance. We have been through extraordinary complex and difficult negotiations. Therefore, I would very strongly hope that that balance is not disturbed," he said on Friday at the Indian embassy wrapping up his three-day visit to the US.
"If you start making revisions and changes, that balance is likely to be upset," Saran said, apparently referring to objections raised by a section of lawmakers.
He said during his meetings with them, the lawmakers did raise concerns about non-proliferation and whether the agreement would bolster India's strategic programme.
"The focus of lawmakers on Capitol Hill was on non-proliferation. There is a global non-proliferation regime; it has been an article of faith for the United States to support that regime all these years; and would this agreement in some way or the other undermine that regime? That is one of the important concerns," Saran said.
