Brajesh Mishra debunks BJP argument for opposing Indo-US 'N' deal

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) Mr Brajesh Mishra, National Security Advisor (NSA) during the NDA government, has demolished BJP's concerns about the Indo-US Nuclear deal and said that not going ahead with it (the deal) would be a ''setback and a severe loss of face'' domestically and internationally.

Ironically, the BJP is opposing the deal in and outside the Parliament.

Mr Mishra, one of the most powerful policy planners in the Vajpayee government, also said India should cooperate with the US and China to support democratic forces in Pakistan.

''I think we should go ahead with the deal...not doing so will be a severe loss of face for the government of India and for India,'' he said in an interview with a television channel.

Describing the opposition to the deal as a ''setback'' for India's hopes of acquiring dual-use technology, the former NSA said ''obviously, dual use technology will not be available to us if we don't go through with this and of course, it is a setback...losing the nuclear deal will mean India's three-stage (civil nuclear) programme will suffer a set back.'' Mr Mishra said India should coordinate with the US, the EU and China to support democratic forces in Pakistan and encourage the country's armed forces to work closely with the new civilian government to counter terrorism.

India should take the initiative to coordinate this multi-nation concerted action, he added.

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