The landmark civil nuclear deal sealed on Friday with Japan is strikingly similar to the agreements India has with the US and some other countries but contains some added features on safety and security, reflecting Japan's concerns on the issue.
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.
Mulford said very little about the meeting except that it was regarding the civil nuclear deal during which he explained his country's position to Sinha, a key person in the BJP.
He said there is a need to pave the way for India to benefit from nuclear power without restrictions.
Sources in the United Progressive Alliance said the offer for a discussion was made afresh during Monday's UPA-Left committee meeting.
A recent opinion poll has shown that a majority of Americans are opposed to the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal at a time when the Bush administration is trying to push legislation to facilitate the smooth implementation of the accord.
India was on Wednesday unperturbed by Nuclear Suppliers Group's decision to strengthen guidelines on enrichment and reprocessing technology transfer, saying it expected its bilateral agreements on full implementation of nuclear deals to be fully honoured without any pre-conditions.
US President George W Bush on Monday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the status of the civil nuclear deal and the recent nuclear test by North Korea.
The US has categorically told Pakistan that it would not get any atomic power plant or civilian nuclear deal on the lines of the one signed with India.
In an apparent reference to the Left parties' opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan on Wednesday said the lack of consensus on the issue was hampering efforts to become a part of nuclear mainstream and needed an early resolution. He said opposition to the nuclear deal within the country is driven by 'considerations' other than the factors like non-proliferation cited by some members of the international community.
The prime minister made it clear that no constraint had been placed on India's right to construct new facilities for strategic purposes.
Maintaining that both India and the US are seriously trying to sort out the 'outstanding issues', he, however, refused to specify when the agreement will be firmed up.
The Left and the BJP are opposed to the deal.
Ironically, Talbott, currently the president of the leading US think-tank Brookings Institution, has been critical of the nuclear deal, as India is yet to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre will have to face the electorate before operationalising the proposed civilian nuclear deal, Communist Party of India Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat claimed on Tuesday.''They will have to face the people's court before implementing the proposed deal as getting clearance from various agencies was a time consuming effort," he said during a seminar.
'The 123 Agreement is open to different interpretations, but it has enough ambiguities there to operate in our interest. The withdrawal clauses in the Agreement are a masterpiece in drafting.'
The United States has said that India is committed to the Nuclear Liabilities Bill and it was up to the United Progressive Alliance government to figure out how to move forward in the wake of the Opposition's objections to some aspects of the controversial legislation.The stalled bill, whose passage in Parliament is a must, is a crucial step for the full implementation of the historic Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
'Modi's intention was to create goodwill that will allow India to be seen by Trump as more than just a bad tariff problem.' 'He succeeded brilliantly on that count but none of these wins are unfortunately permanent.' 'Modi will have to do this again and again if Trump's grievances are to be durably assuaged.'
The Left parties seek a statement from the government reflecting the 'sense of the House' on the vital issue.
The US said on Wednesday that the Indian Parliament needed to act upon the "critical" nuclear liability bill to take forward the Indo-American nuclear deal, which had reached "almost the finishing line".
'And if the United States, at that time, perceives India to have welched on the deal, not been our friend, when we did so much to make it a friend, that's trouble.'
A key aide to United States President Barack Obama has dismissed reports that the new US administration has kept the nuclear deal with India on the backburner. Bruce Riedel, a former Central Intelligence Agency official who co-chaired an inter-agency committee which formulated Obama's Af-Pak policy, also did not see Robert Einhorn's recent appointment, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's special adviser on non-proliferation issues, as an impediment.
K Subrahamnayam, strategic thinker and staunch supporter of the deal debates the issue with rediff.com Managing Editor Sheela Bhatt.
'Mrs Gandhi had nothing to do in the day-to-day working of Dr Singh's government.' 'People say Mrs Gandhi's office used to give orders, which is nonsense.'
"The Congress should realise that secularism alone is not enough and it should do some serious introspection over its policies," said CPI secretary D Raja.
Samajwadi Party, which has 39 members in Lok Sabha, is gradually becoming a foe-turned-friend for Congress, which seeks to extend the lifeline of the coalition government headed by it if the Left pulls the plug.
Pakistan has failed to secure a clear commitment for its much sought-after civil nuclear deal from the United States, which has decided to help in upgrading three of its thermal power plants.
The US ambassador said "every effort" is being made to conclude the deal before President George W Bush arrives here.
He disclosed how his government had briefed many of the political parties, including the main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party, represented in Parliament on the details of the agreement.
Several NSG countries like Britain, France and Russia besides the US have expressed their approval of the deal but some of its members, particularly the Scandinavian nations, have reservations.
'Trump administration wanted a positive tone at this summit, but there was still some anxiety that there could be some awkward moments -- and there were not.'
The CPI-M leader was fluent in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bangla, and also Malayalam. He was also well-versed in Hindu mythology, and often used those references in his speeches especially to attack the BJP.
The United States has said that it has broadened the non-proliferation regime by bringing India inside it through the Indo-US nuclear deal.
'The government has to explain (to the army, air force and navy chiefs) whether they want a punitive strike, a deep punitive strike, or whether they want limited war or an all-out war, will it be a circumscribed war or will it be a shallow attack along the border.'
Srinagar-born expert was consulted by the Bush administration when the US and India began negotiating the civil nuclear deal. Aziz Haniffa reports
The Sino-Pakistan nuclear pact highlights the growing assertiveness of China in global politics and its willingness to take on Washington. It also showcases China's penchant for viewing Pakistan as an important asset in countering India, writes Harsh V Pant.
India is being sold a bill of goods. Yet again.
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