Nuclear deal 'does not limit' India's weapons programme
India’s prime minister today said the civilian nuclear pact with the United States would not limit the scope of the Asian nation’s atomic weapons programme.
The deal opens India’s civilian reactors to international inspections in exchange for civilian nuclear know-how and fuel, but has been criticised by critics on the left and right as a threat to Indian national security.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told sceptical politicians that “there will be no capping of our strategic programme” under the deal, and that the reprocessing and enrichment of uranium – key steps in making weapons-grade material – would not be subject to international safeguards.
“The minimum deterrent capability” of India’s nuclear weapons is “adequately protected”, he said.
That is important to many people in India who see rival Pakistan, which also has nuclear weapons, as a serious threat, despite a two-year peace process between them.
The India-US deal was finalised last week by Singh and US President George Bush, who spent two days in India. It has been touted as the cornerstone of an emerging alliance between New Delhi and Washington.
After decades of Cold War mistrust “India and the United States have much to gain from this new partnership”, Singh told parliament. “We have entered a new and positive phase.”
The pact must now must be approved by the US congress, where American officials are bracing for a tough fight with non-proliferation advocates who argue the deal rewards India for not signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and developing weapons.
