India-US N deal imposes several restraints on India
Washington, June 27 : The final version of the bill on the landmark India-US nuclear deal does not have any apparent ''deal breakers'' but has several operative portions that could result in termination of the pact if New Delhi conducts a nuclear test or does not give up production of fissile material for nuclear weapons Called the ''United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006'', it is being taken up by the House International Relations Committee today.
It primarily seeks to exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, a proposed nuclear agreement for cooperation with India.
It has been sponsored by Chairman of the Committee Henry Hyde, the ranking Democrat on the Committee Tom Lantos and the India Caucus members Gary Ackerman, D-NY and Ms Ros-Lehtinen (Republican).
The bill has three parts, a sense of the Congress, statement of general policy and the crucial operative portion of bill containing waivers and determinations.
The sense of Congress part of the bill clearly states that preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, the means to produce them, and the means to deliver them are critical objectives for United States foreign policy.
Secondly sustaining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and strengthening its implementation, particularly its verification and compliance, is the keystone of United States nonproliferation policy.
It is in the interest of the US to extend eligibility to a nation (in this case India) that is not a signatory to the NPT but has developed nuclear weapons by making exception to the Atomic Energy Act and entering into an agreement with it provided it has responsibly herded its nuke technology and is a democratic nation.
And has a foreign policy that is congruent to that of the United States.
Since India fits into this the US extends the civilian nuclear technology to India.
Besides this, such cooperation will induce the country to give greater political and material support to the achievement of United States global and regional nonproliferation objectives, especially with respect to dissuading, isolating and if necessary, sanctioning and containing states that sponsor terrorism and terrorist groups, that are seeking to acquire a nuclear weapons capability or other weapons of mass destruction capability and the means to deliver such weapons.
Since India meets the criteria described above, the bill states that it is in the national security interest of the United States to deepen its relationship with the country across a full range of issues, including peaceful nuclear cooperation.
The bill also clearly spells out United States policy with respect to South Asia. Top on the list is to achieve a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear explosive purposes by India, Pakistan and the People's Republic of China at the earliest possible date.
UNI