The United States on Saturday said India's position on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will not impact the nuclear agreement between the two countries and expressed hope about moving forward with the landmark agreement."We've said before that the resolution that was passed on Thursday unanimously by the United Nations Security Council does not have any bearing on our bilateral civil nuclear cooperation," said an US official.
Shortly after the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution asking the non-Non Proliferation Treaty countries to sign the NPT, India on Thursday ruled out signing the agreement saying, "It cannot support a discriminatory" pact.
The manner in which India and Pakistan have pursued atomic weapons has 'upset the balance of nuclear deterrence', United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday, asserting that the US is working hard with both countries to try to limit their number of nuclear stockpiles.
A US-based group on Thursday strongly criticised Australia's reported decision to sell uranium to India saying it violated Sydney's international nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor on Saturday defended India's decision to vote against Iran on the International Atomic Energy Agency resolution, claiming that it had been taken keeping in mind the fact that the Islamic nation was a signatory of the NPT. He was responding to a question on whether India had toed America's line over Iran's nuclear programme.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohammad ElBaradei has said that he does not expect India to sign the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty, but feels the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty could be more "acceptable".
United States President Barack Obama has assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the United Nations Security Council resolution asking non-Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty states to sign the proliferation treaty is not directed against India and that his country would fulfill all obligations with regard to the nuclear deal.
The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution asking all non-Non Proliferation Treaty states to join the treaty at an unprecedented summit chaired by United States President Barack Obama who signalled that these countries, which include India, must come on board.
The conference on NPT review will kick off on Tuesday and the Iran-West showdown over Tehran's nuclear programme is likely to dominate the proceedings. India, which is not a signatory to the NPT has decided to stay out of the conference.
Here are few excerpts from the July 30 debate
India, a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, was not invited to a luncheon meeting hosted by United States Vice President Joe Biden, where he professed that the grouping and his country had similar goals on nuclear security and non-proliferation.
Ahead of her talks with the Indian leadership, a leading American newspaper has said United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should urge India to drop its opposition to the Non Proliferation Treaty and consider opening regional arms talks with Pakistan and China.
Even though India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Obama Administration said on Wednesday that New Delhi had a key role to play in strengthening of global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Downer will ask the Cabinet to approve the export of Australian uranium to India in a submission to be considered by the government within weeks, The Australian newspaper reported on Thursday.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday advised the United States to leave the issue of Iran's nuclear programme to the International Atomic Energy Agency and not take up the responsibility of deciding Iran's position."Iran should convince the IAEA that their nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. We are advising Iran that being a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, you should satisfy the IAEA."
With the US President Barack Obama presiding over a key session of UN Security Council on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament on Friday, America has asked all countries to join the Non Proliferation Treaty and hoped that the powerful body of the UN would endorse its call for world without nuclear weapons.
"Non-proliferation is an issue that the US and India can work together on," US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer said on Thursday, when asked about his views on India keeping away from NPT.
In a departure from tradition of not singling out countries by name, the United Nations has asked India, Pakistan and Israel to join the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty without further delay and pre-conditions.
The government on Monday asserted that India was not worried by the decision of G-8 nations to curb the transfer of some sensitive nuclear technology to nations which have not signed the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty. The statement from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee came after Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party were seen on the same side in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, demanding a discussion on the key issue.
Russia could launch cooperation with India in building fast-neutron nuclear reactors, if sanctions against New Delhi were lifted, the top Russian nuclear agency said.
India's entry into the Wassenaar Arrangement would enhance its credentials in the field of non-proliferation despite not being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
By signing the 123 Agreement, India is effectively giving up it 34-year-old nuclear deterrent at a time when China is enhancing its own nuclear capability. (So is Pakistan; both China and Pakistan are, unsurprisingly, delighted with the 123 Agreement). In return, we will be "allowed" to give Western and Russian civil nuclear infrastructure companies business (from Indian taxpayers' money) worth over $120 billion
On fuel assurances for India, they said ensuring that the US maintained the right of recapture the ability to demand back any US-origin nuclear fuel or technology -- in the event of a future Indian nuclear test was an important part of the agreemen
Lauding India's track record on non-proliferation, Japan said it has been a "good boy" despite remaining outside Non Proliferation Treaty regime, but New Delhi should shoulder the responsibility to strengthen the NPT regime.
K Subrahamanyam felt India's right to conduct nuclear tests was not curbed under the agreement.
India on Monday said that its commitment to non-proliferation is 'second to none' and the issue of procuring uranium from Australia will come up once it firms up an international arrangement for nuclear commerce.External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who met his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith in Canberra, also said it was too early to refer to the issue of uranium sale as political discussions back home on implementing the N-deal were still on.
Ruling out the sale of uranium to India until it signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Australia on Monday announced the setting up of a global body for nuclear disarmament, hoping to rope in 'like minded' countries.Rudd said he understood the Indian arguments, and said the United States administration had also put India's case to him, but the Labour party was firmly behind the NPT.India would not be able to circumvent the NPT by joining the commission.
Australian Opposition parties have been quick in taking a tough stand against Prime Minister John Howard for his 'recklessness.'
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India not signing NPT does not mean it is part of the nuclear arms race.
India has reiterated its reluctance to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty despite United States President Barack Obama's call for all nations to sign the disputed pact.
Australia's new government on Tuesday said that it will not sell uranium to India until the country signs the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Last year, the previous federal government struck an in-principle agreement with India to sell uranium to the country. The deal was to be subject to strict conditions, including guarantees that the uranium would be used for power generation only, despite India not being a signatory to the NPT.
"Following the Hyde Act, Bush is differentiating provisions of the deal as advisory and mandatory in nature. This was not initially mentioned in the joint statement and now he has put India in ambiguity," he said.
The Netherlands, a key member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, has said that the export of nuclear goods for peaceful purposes to India was in conformity with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The country has also expressed its readiness to consider any proposal in this regard. However, Netherlands said that it was awaiting the finalisation of the agreement between India and the IAEA and it will formulate its final position after careful analysis of the pact.
Lauding India for successfully avoiding a "clash of civilisations", Fontelles said the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi could play an important role in this regard.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Friday said the "strict safeguards" India has to follow to obtain uranium supplies from Sydney will have the same effect of that country signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Australia has decided to sell uranium to India on the condition that its inspectors be allowed to check on site that the yellowcake is used only for peaceful purposes.
Australia, in a bid to take a leading role in getting a global ban on nuclear weapons, may ask the non-Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty signatory nations like India and Pakistan to join its newly set up nuclear disarmament commission. "Australia, being the world's biggest uranium supplier with a track record of its engagement over a range of nuclear issues, is well-equipped to play some kind of leadership role here," said Gareth Evans, who will co-chair the commission.
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