Indian committee to review objections to US nuke deal

INDIA: India’s foreign minister said Thursday that the Congress party-led government would set up a committee to review objections by communist allies to a controversial nuclear deal with the United States.

“The operationalisation of the nuclear deal will take into account the committee’s findings,” foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement after a meeting with communist parties.

“The committee will also examine the implications of the nuclear agreement on foreign policy and security cooperation,” Mukherjee said.

The pact seeks to bring India into the loop of global atomic commerce after a gap of three decades while also binding the country closer to Washington. The leftist parties, which oppose strategic ties with Washington, say the nuclear agreement threatens India’s sovereignty.

The opposition from the communists raised concerns that India may be headed for mid-term elections if the leftists withdraw their support from the government over the issue.

In particular, the left parties had asked the government not to begin negotiations next month with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the next step towards implementing the Indo-US deal.

The government later hinted the talks with the watchdog could be delayed.

“The deal is not likely to be operationalised this year,” said Kapil Sibal, India’s minister for science and technology.

“The time-table we have in mind now is sometime in the latter half of next year,” said Sibal, one of India’s pivotal negotiators with the United States.

Sibal also tried to stump speculation the deal would be placed on ice until national elections in 2009.

“The deal will not be put on hold and we will be able to address the concerns of the left within a week,” Sibal said.

The government had earlier indicated it will push ahead with the talks as well as solicit the support of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which oversees the sale of nuclear fuel and technology between nations.

Government sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was likely to head the panel, which will include diplomats and nuclear scientists who were part of the negotiations with the US since 2005 when the deal was first signed.

New Delhi, Friday, AFP