India reaffirms commitment to Minimum Credible Nuclear Deterrent

New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) India today rubbished as ''misplaced'' reports that the Nuclear deal with the US would enhance or cripple its strategic programme and reaffirmed its commitment to a Minimum Credible Deterrent.

Describing as 'misplaced' media reports that the nuclear deal with the US would enhance or cripple India's strategic capacity, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said, in response to a question, that it must be remembered that the Nuclear agreement was about Civilian Nuclear Energy cooperation and not the strategic programme.

''We have seen this report in question. Unfortunately, there has been a considerable amount of misinformed speculation about our nuclear programme. First of all, you must remember that our nuclear deal with the US is about civilian nuclear energy cooperation and not about our strategic programme,'' he said.

The spokesman said the issues touched upon in this report had all been covered by the Nuclear Separation Plan, which had been tabled in Parliament.

''It is clear and unambiguous, just as the July 18 Joint Statement is. There is no room for misinterpretation. The argument that the nuclear deal with the US would enhance strategic capacity is as misplaced as its opposite extreme--that it would cripple our programme,'' he said.

The spokesman said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had accurately summed up the situation in her Congressional testimony when she noted that the nuclear deal would have no impact on India's strategic programme.

''India remains committed to a credible minimum deterrent,'' the spokesman added.

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