India approves nuclear deal with US
Thursday, 26 July 2007
NEW DELHI, July 25 (AP): India's Cabinet has signed off on the technical details of a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the United States, moving a step closer to finalizing a pact touted as the cornerstone of an emerging partnership, officials said Wednesday.
The broad deal was approved two years ago, but talks on its technical aspects had dragged on, held up by American reluctance to allow India to reprocess spent atomic fuel - a key step in making atomic weapons - and Indian demands for a guaranteed fuel supply for reactors. New Delhi also wanted the right to test nuclear weapons.
How those issues were resolved remains an open question. Neither side has released details of the deal since Friday, when they said it was nearly complete and awaiting final approval.
But after the Indian Cabinet's committees on security and political affairs jointly met and approved the deal Wednesday, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters that "all concerns of India have been reflected and have been adequately addressed."
Officials in the United States still have to approve the technical agreement.
The broad deal was approved two years ago, but talks on its technical aspects had dragged on, held up by American reluctance to allow India to reprocess spent atomic fuel - a key step in making atomic weapons - and Indian demands for a guaranteed fuel supply for reactors. New Delhi also wanted the right to test nuclear weapons.
How those issues were resolved remains an open question. Neither side has released details of the deal since Friday, when they said it was nearly complete and awaiting final approval.
But after the Indian Cabinet's committees on security and political affairs jointly met and approved the deal Wednesday, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters that "all concerns of India have been reflected and have been adequately addressed."
Officials in the United States still have to approve the technical agreement.