Terming the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal as "unique to India and not a model to replicate", a senior Bush administration official said the United States is committed to cooperate with Pakistan in enhancing its energy needs but "a civilian nuclear deal with it was not on the table".
With President George W Bush set to sign on Wednesday the bill on Indo-US nuclear deal into law, the Indian-American community feels the focus now should be on using the current framework for the future development of bilateral ties, including creating opportunities for businesses, NGOs and government entities.
According to a study by the Centre for the Study of Science, Technology and Policy based in Bangalore, there is a good chance of nuclear power contributing about 57,000 MW by 2030 through LWRs and FBRs. By building more PHWRs too -- with totally indigenous technology, but run on imported uranium fuel -- the level could touch 70,000 MW or higher
India on Friday said it was confident of the passage of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal as it enjoyed bipartisan support among lawmakers, assuring that American firms would not be put at a disadvantage even if there is delay in getting a Congressional nod for the accord.
In a major positive development for the Indo-US nuclear agreement, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the deal, paving the way for its entry into the full Senate. The lawmakers in the crucial Senate panel adopted the agreement by a vote of 19-2.
America's nuclear fuel supply assurances to India are a "political commitment" and the government cannot "legally compel" US firms to sell a "given product" to New Delhi, top officials told a Congressional panel as the administration worked hard to push the Indo-US deal through the Congress before September 26.
Speaking to media persons after the hearing where senior Bush Administration officials testified on the agreement, Dodd, asked the first question by rediff.com as to the bottom line vis-a-vis the possible approval of the deal by Congress by September 26, said, "The evidence in the past has been that there is a strong desire to reach agreement, and a clear understanding of the value and importance of this."
The letter, coordinated by the Arms Control Association and the Campaign for Responsibility in Nuclear Trade, and signed by several independent non-proliferation experts and activists, former US Ambassadors, faith groups, and international security and disarmament organizations, urge lawmakers 'to actively support measures that would help address the numerous flaws and ambiguities in this proposal'.
As India finalised its steps to open up the economy for investing and trade, Bush cleared the way for US companies to set up shop in India. The rise of India's IT and BPO industries -- which today are synonymous with India the world over -- owes a great deal to the policies pursued by George W Bush, says Matthew Schneeberger in his ongoing series summing up the Bush administration
The administration is leaving no stone unturned as it races against time to have the US-India civilian nuclear agreement completed by the Congressional adjournment date of September 26 even if indications are there that the lawmakers may return for a Lame-Duck Session after the November 4 presidential elections.
The Indian Americans will be awarded the medal for theri contribution to strengthening of Indo-US relations and philanthropic work in both India and the US, at an award ceremony on May 10 at the historic Ellis Island in New York City.
The Nuclear Suppliers Group finally gave its nod to the India-specific waiver on Saturday.The decision came after the NSG held fresh rounds of unscheduled discussions on grant of a waiver for India, after marathon parleys on Friday failed to produce a consensus, with China joining a clutch of countries having reservations over the move.Diplomats from 45 countries constituting the nuclear cartel had been engaged in hectic and tough negotiations.
Leaders of the Left parties, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Telugu Desam Party will meet President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday to demand immediate convening of Parliament session. The meeting comes in the wake of the Left demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should quit for "lying to people and Parliament" on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Hectic negotiations on India getting NSG waiver are going down to the wire with last-minute changes being pushed by sceptic countries to incorporate their concerns in the draft to hammer out a consensus.After four rounds of discussions that spilled over late into Friday night, Austria, which was among a couple of countries holding out, gave enough indications that 'more work still' needs to be done that will enable India cross a major hurdle in operationalising the N-deal.
It was an eventful year for the Left parties capping over four years of love-hate relationship with Congress-led United Progressive Alliance coalition with which they severed ties on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Affirming its commitment to work with India in securing a "clean" waiver from the NSG, the US on Monday said the two countries will "continue our vigorous joint advocacy", including at the highest levels, for it ahead of the grouping's next meeting on September 4.
Biden, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has foreign policy experience in spades, making him an appealing candidate.
Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon left for Washington Saturday morning after the two-day Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting in Vienna ended inconclusively on Friday with another round scheduled early next month for considering India's case for an exemption to do nuclear commerce with other countries.
Acceptance of the draft waiver in its current form could fuel a nuclear arms race in the Asian subcontinent, Edward J Markey, a critic of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal said, as the 45-member grouping yesterday held discussions over the matter as part of a two-day meet in Vienna.
United States President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting India -- Ahmedabad and Delhi -- on February 24 and 25 on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Let's assess earlier American presidential visits to India.
US President George W Bush on Thursday said in a major speech on his government's Asian policy that the United States under his administration has dramatically turned around Washington-New Delhi ties, citing the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal. "For example, America has dramatically improved our ties with India, the world's largest democracy, including a historic agreement on civilian nuclear energy," he said.
Modi, upon arrival, was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Concluding his whirlwind tour of Silicon Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for New York where he will have a packed schedule that includes talks with US President Barack Obama.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma late Wednesday night on the sidelines of ASEAN ministerial meet in Singapore. The leaders had a 'very good' meeting during which Rice appreciated India's 'resolve to go ahead with the historic nuclear deal', highly-placed sources told PTI.
Fresh from confabulations with AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, CPI top leader A B Bardhan sees another opportunity for the Left parties to play a more effective role at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections next year.
India will brief the IAEA board of Governors on the safeguards agreement and other aspects of Indo-US nuclear deal tomorrow in Vienna ahead of the board's scheduled meeting on August one to reach a consensus on giving a waiver to India to do civilian nuclear trade.
The Indian American community and US business that had lobbied feverishly for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, are euphoric over the recent developments where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to go ahead with the accord come what may and even in the wake of the Left coalition partners withdrawing their support and leaving the country in a state of political uncertainty.
Advani met RSS chief K Sudarshan and VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Parveen Togadia to discuss current political situation in the country. At least 15 top leaders of the RSS and the VHP were also present.
Meeting in Hotel Windsor on Mount Poromoi hours before the Left parties would be withdrawing support on the nuclear deal, both Dr Singh and Bush expressed mutual admiration for each other and spoke of the need for closer relationship between the two countries.
In a quick response to points raised by Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat over the Safeguards Agreement with IAEA in a letter to him, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee wrote back saying that anybody wanting access to the text of the agreement would have had to join the government for it.
A decision to this effect was taken by BJP president Rajnath Singh soon after the Left parties announced their withdrawal of support to the four-year-old government.
US President-elect Barack Obama is a solid supporter of the growing Indo-US strategic partnership and backs the landmark bilateral nuclear deal, but has strong views about outsourcing of American jobs overseas, a cause of concern for Indian businesses.
The PMO issued a press release virtually repeating its earlier assurances that the deal did not undermine India's nuclear sovereignty or did any harm to the country's interest. At a press conference later, Singh said the prime minister should come out with a public statement either in Parliament or outside assuaging their concerns as they were not in a position to support the deal as of now.
Addressing media persons following his meeting with National Security Adviser M K Narayanan -- which was also attended by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP general secretary Amar Singh said: "Until the prime minister makes a public statement allaying apprehensions in Parliament or outside it will be difficult for SP to support the deal."
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