Facing timelines, India and the United States on Monday waffled on the civilian nuclear deal with external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee saying there is some 'political problem' domestically and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice [Images] asserting Washington will continue to work on it.

"We are interested in implementing the landmark agreement reached. But now we have some political problem. Currently we are engaged in the process of resolving it," Mukherjee told reporters after a 30-minute meeting in Washington with Rice.

The minister is expected to have a separate meeting with President George W Bush [Images].

Mukherjee, who is on his maiden bilateral visit to Washington as external affairs minister, said his government is engaged in discussions with various political parties.

Conveying Washington's desire to take the deal forward, Rice said it is a "landmark agreement which is good for both sides. We will continue to work on that agreement".

On negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency on India-specific safeguards agreement, Mukherjee said the discussions are over. "The agreement is yet to be initialised and approved by the board of governors of the IAEA," he said.

India needs to firm up the agreement with the IAEA and secure changes in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group to enable nuclear commerce with it.

The Left parties, stoutly opposing the deal in its present form, have threatened to withdraw support to the government if steps were taken to operationalise it.

Image: External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice after their bilateral meeting on Monday in Washington.
Photograph: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images