Burns optimistic about US nuke deal with India

     New Delhi: US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Washington's chief nuclear negotiator Nicholas Burns said on Friday that he was hopeful about making progress in the Indo-US nuke deal issue during his meetings with his Indian counterparts later in the day. Indian and US negotiators began talks on Thursday in an attempt to reach a compromise on a landmark nuclear cooperation deal in time for President George W. Bush's visit to the subcontinent next week. The two-day talks between Burns and Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran are being held ahead of Bush's visit to New Delhi next week, a trip, which aims to cement a new friendship between the two countries who were on opposite sides in pre-Cold War era.

    Burns said that both the countries were working hard in an attempt to reach a compromise on a landmark nuclear cooperation deal. "We are working very hard on this agreement on both sides. We have great respect for Indian colleagues with whom we are working, we have been active now for 11 months and there have been unique negotiations, very challenging. But there is a goodwill by both governments, and a commitment by President Bush to see this through towards a conclusion," said Burns after meeting MInister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma here today. Burns added that he hoped to make some progress in the talks with Saran later in the afternoon. We have some more work to do today. We haven't had a meeting today yet. We'll be going to a meeting today in the afternoon with Foreign Secretary Saran and we are hoping to make progress in that meeting. ...had a meeting with Mr. Sharma and encouraged by everything going in right direction in the relationship," he said. The deal, which aims to give India access to long-denied U.S. nuclear equipment and fuel, has run into trouble over differences on New Delhi's plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear programmes to prevent proliferation. Burns, chief negotiator on the civilian nuclear energy deal, on Thursday said there were "still remaining differences" over the deal but both sides were keen on signing the deal during President George Bush's visit. New Delhi and Washington are both keen to make the civilian nuclear cooperation deal the centerpiece of Bush's visit. But Washington's desire to see a large chunk of India's 22 nuclear reactors placed under international safeguards has rankled India's nuclear establishment. Indian atomic scientists argue that such a move could compromise nuclear security and shackle the atomic programme. The deal has also come under strong opposition from the American non-proliferation lobby which says cooperation with India -- which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty -- would let it expand its military programme and also encourage other countries to do the same.

Nicholas Burns visit 'fruitful': Manmohan Singh

     New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday described the visit of US Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns, as 'fruitful', as Burns continued talks with his Indian counterpart Shyam Saran to reach a compromise on a landmark nuclear cooperation deal. "Of course, he has come here to prepare for President Bush's visit. We are looking forward to President Bush's visit as honourable guest of our country. Yes, it is a fruitful visit," Singh told reporters. Burns and Saran began the delicate exercise on Thursday to close in an agreement in time for President George W. Bush's visit to the subcontinent next week. The deal, which aims to give India access to long-denied U.S. nuclear equipment and fuel, has run into trouble over differences on New Delhi's plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear programmes to prevent proliferation. The two-day talks between Burns and Saran are being held ahead of Bush's visit to New Delhi, a trip which aims to cement a new friendship between the two countries who were on opposite sides of the Cold War. New Delhi and Washington are both keen to make the civilian nuclear cooperation deal the centerpiece of the visit. Abid Hussain, former Indian Ambassador to U.S., said he was confident that India would be able to achieve a certain position where it will be permitted access in civilian nuclear energy though it might be an uphill task. "There will have to be negotiation and talks and trade offs because you see between two countries when you have got differences, they do not get resolved so easily. Today, it is not a military power with which you see you can conquer a territory and you make that government to submit to your laws and your wishes or this thing or the other. You have got to so influence the other country that it responds to your needs and requirements and I think both of us are doing it. We are trying to see that how would we be able to convince America that their interests are in safe in having the technology completed with us. Similarly, America should also feel that India is a safe bet in this regard. It will take time," said Hussain.

     The deal, besides giving India access to U.S. civilian atomic technology, would also help lift a global ban on New Delhi receiving similar supplies from other nuclear nations to cater to its soaring energy requirements. But Washington's desire to see a large chunk of India's 22 nuclear reactors placed under international safeguards has rankled India's nuclear establishment. Indian atomic scientists argue that such a move could compromise nuclear security and shackle the atomic programme. The deal has also come under strong opposition from the American non-proliferation lobby which says cooperation with India -- which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty -- would let it expand its military programme and also encourage other countries to do the same.

    Meanwhile, scores of Muslims staged a protest march against the visit of US. President George Bush scheduled next week. Bush will be in New Delhi next week to further advance a rapidly growing U.S.-India relationship that has the nuclear deal as its centerpiece. Muslims, who congregated after holding Friday prayers shouted anti-Bush slogans and condemned him for carrying out attacks on Iraq, Iran and other Muslim countries. "President Bush is against humanity and wherever he had gone, it had led to attacks only. He wants people to be working under his rule," said a religious leader. The agitationists also burnt the effigy of Bush to register their anger.

Back to Headlines                  Go To Top