The United States on Tuesday asked India not to talk about an unconditional waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group as it was 'provocative' ahead of the meeting of the 45-nation group.

In a telephonic press conference from the US, Ambassador to India David Mulford said usage of the term 'unconditional' was 'over simplification' of issues considering that the issue related to the NSG.

He noted that the US was seeking 'clean exemption' from the NSG and was not using the word unconditional because there are 'many moving parts' in the process, including the Separation Plan, the 123 agreement and India-International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement.

                                           Coverage: The Indo-US Nuclear Deal

"It is somewhat a provocative word to be used," Mulford said while specifying that it was his personal view as it could create difficulties in the process.

"We are hoping for, I use the word, clean exemption. We hope the NSG will recognise and accept the moving pieces -- the 123 agreement, change of US law and so on and gives approval to this," the Ambassador said.

Mulford noted that member countries of the NSG would have different points of view but he expected the grouping to give a clean waiver to India.

                                            Explained: The Nuclear Deal

The Ambassador sought to discount the possibility of the NSG putting the condition that India sign the NPT, saying the US has 'understood' that New Delhi [Images] will not sign the pact and their bilateral negotiations on the nuclear deal have proceeded on that assumption so far.

Mulford said the US was working very closely with India in garnering support at the NSG, with President George W Bush [Images] himself involved in the process.

Top officials of the US are engaged in conversations with NSG member-countries in an attempt to ensure a consensus on the issue during the meeting on August 21-22.

                                        Explained: The IAEA Safeguards Agreement

"The US is raising this question with all the NSG countries," the Ambassador said.

The US is also working out proper language for the draft to be circulated among NSG countries soon, he said.

Mulford said the US will try to persuade the NSG to grant the waiver for India, according to the expectations of the two countries.

"We hope all countries will come together at the NSG to support the initiative," the US Ambassador said.

He evaded a reply when asked whether there were any countries that may oppose India.

Sources said there would be questions by some countries, like Norway, Switzerland [Images], the Netherlands, New Zealand [Images], at the August 21-22 NSG meeting, which India will have to answer.

On the Congressional process involved in implementation of the deal, Mulford said the 123 agreement is expected to be presented to it in early September and it was for the legislature to decide when to consider it.

To a question, the Ambassador said there was a convention of having a 30-day session of the Congress but the duration can vary as it is flexible.

The Bush administration has sounded the US Congress that the 123 agreement may be presented to it for 'up-down vote' immediately after it re-convenes on September 8 after a summer break.

If the 123 agreement is not taken up during the session that is likely to end on September 19, there will be a window of opportunity available in the form of a brief 'lame-duck' session in December.

Mulford also denied reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] had been invited by President Bush to Washington. He said there could be a possibility of a meeting between the two leaders if Singh visits the US for the United Nations General Assembly meeting next month.