NEW DELHI: The United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns was scheduled to be here to give final touches to the coordinated moves of India and the US at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna.
But despite his India visit having been postponed, he and Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon are in “constant touch” over phone to discuss what should be done to ensure that India’s case is not opposed by any country, reliable political sources said.
Besides, the US is playing lead role in trying to persuade all NSG members, particularly a “small number” of countries with reservations against grant of waiver to India. National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan is also engaged in fine-tuning the strategy that should be adopted by India at the NSG meeting on Aug. 21 and 22.
India’s priority is to allay any fears or doubts that NSG may entertain regarding nuclear commerce with it. India is hopeful that by projecting its “excellent nonproliferation record,” it will be able to secure the needed exemption from NSG’s restrictive export rules.
With International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s approval of the India specific safeguards pact having paved the way for NSG meetings, once it is cleared here, it would be placed before the US Congress for a vote.
Once formalized, the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal will lift the three-decade ban on sale of US nuclear fuel and reactors to India. The ban was imposed after India conducted a nuclear test in 1974. India remains a non-signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
NSG’s current chair, Germany has asked India to take the floor at the NSG meeting on Aug. 21. India is to brief the members about its non-proliferation commitments and policies.
While it has not been difficult for India to secure IAEA’s approval, apprehensions are entertained about it getting the green signal from NSG, where the decision can be taken only by consensus. Even if one country opposes India’s case, it would not get the waiver.
With a few countries of the 45-member NSG group still entertaining reservations, India remains concerned about securing full-fledged support there. Besides, following its briefing to the plenary session, India is likely to face a series of questions demanding clarifications about its nuclear policy and the proposed NSG waiver’s text.
India expects the NSG to approve the exemption, “without any change to the draft that was circulated to them recently,” sources said. India is apprehensive about being confronted at the plenary with demands for changes in the draft.
