Bush seeks Congressional nod over N-deal with India

Washington, Mar 07: The Bush administration has started talks with lawmakers over the landmark civilian nuclear deal with India to obtain Congressional approval, a 'pre-requisite' for its implementation.

Calling the deal a 'credible' one that would enhance American, Indian and global interests, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns yesterday said, the talks had already begun with key legislators and their aides to explain the salient features of the deal.

Mr Burns, the chief negotiator on the deal, said the Bush administration will not and has not recognised India as a nuclear weapon state, but the deal will give some He was speaking at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington DC, soon after his return from India.

He also dismissed the notion that the deal would set off an arms race in the region.

''We are having trouble understanding the argument that somehow this deal makes it more likely that India is going to engage in an arms build up. That's not at all the sense that we have from the Indian government,'' he said.

Replying to a question, he said India and Pakistan would not jump into an arms race because their relations have improved in the recent years. ''We don't foresee any arms race between the two countries.'' He also expressed confidence that India will focus on civilian energy development, and not weapons-building.

Mr Burns said critics who countered this view were only painting an unrealistic ''doomsday scenario.'' ''This doomsday scenario that's been put together by some critics, does not meet the reality of the current situation of the Indian government and its people and their future economic and energy needs.'' he added.

UNI