Looking into the nuke deal

Alright, so the deals through, and President Bush's visit is being hailed as one of the most important ever. From all the media reports I read, I got the impression that there are a lot of loose ends to be tied, I mean, these are nukes we are talking about, but such was the eagerness to get the deal through while Bush was still in India that I am certain they decided to overlook certain tiny details.

Many commentaries in the Indian press say that India stood its ground and got what it wanted. Here, the media has said India talked to the superpower as an equal, and many commentaries in the US say that the US gave too much for too little. Any American journalist with a faintest of interest in Indian affairs has gone ahead and asked whether we will be true to our words and not start making nukes with all the delicious technology coming our way.

hmm, I dont know. I would like to think we are responsible, and no matter what the nay sayers think, energy security is concern number one if we have to be a strong economic power. Critics say how can this deal be that important if our nuclear fuel production fulfills only 3% of our energy needs, and that we should compromise our relations with other nations (read Iran) for the sake of the United States. Well, I dont know the answer to that, but I do know that even for the nationalist that I am, we can't move ahead if we have the false notion that we are supreme and can do it all by ourselves. And that is what I think my feelings are, if we need to grow, we need the help of the superpower. The US needs us to stand as buffer to China, and as much as we may deny it, I think our leadership sees it coming as well.

This deals been noticed all over the world. I googled phrases such as "nuclear+deal+Bush=India" and I read editorials and commentaries from all over the world, and yes, felt nice.

On a whole different note, you know, China has propped up Pakistan against us, its helping the Maoists in Nepal, Bangladesh is pretty much its lackey, and Myanmar, being a military junta itself, has a lot in common with Beijing already. So why should we be afraid to align ourselves with the US? Israel and Russia are our friends already, we have a friend in Vietnam in South China Sea, Japan is getting closer to us, and Taiwan could use a friend in international politics. Of course, let us not forget our friends in Afghanistan. Yo, you know the Chileans in South America? I think they like us too.
So you know, its good we are seeing ourselves in the big picture. China wants a string of pearls around Mother India? I say let the games begin.

After totally moving away from the topic, let me come back and post this article by this lady who explains what India got out of the deal. Of course, as Sameer said, all this brouhaha will up for some reality check at the US Congress. Where does Pakistan stand in this whole picture? I dont know, but I do like where this world is heading, thats all i have to say about it. I'll keep my blog domestic.

Why is India rejoicing?

As on March 2, 2006, India is not accorded the status of a Nuclear Weapons State nor is India in the list of 'non-nuclear' States. India is somewhere in between.

India's impeccable record in non-proliferation over the last four decades was acknowledged and rewarded in a big way.

The Indian government has been insisting for many months that this separation plan has nothing to do with India's strategic nuclear programme. After Thursday's agreement, government sources claim that nothing stops India from adding strength to India's strategic programme.

India and the United States moved one firm step forward to eventually signing the ambitious Indo-US Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement, a high-level source in the government said on Thursday.

After the agreement, Dr Singh told this correspondent at the press conference at Hyderabad House, "Now it is for the United States to go to the US Congress for necessary amendments in US laws. Also, the US will approach members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and thereafter we'll go to the International Atomic Energy Agency for India-specific safeguards."

Some highlights:

• The US government has accepted India's contention that the Fast Breeder Reactors will be kept out of the civilian list.
• Nuclear reactors that generate about 65 percent of India's atomic power will now go on the civilian list and thus be open to international scrutiny.
• Of India's 22 nuclear reactors, 14 will have safeguards, which will be negotiated with IAEA exclusively.
• The most impressive advantage for India is on 'India specific' terms and conditions that will take care of India's future nuclear energy projects. The separation plan given to the US is only about current projects. The Indian side has taken care of all future nuclear energy plans.
• It will be entirely India's sovereign right to decide whether to keep new indigenously built plants in the civilian or military list. However all nuclear plants built with imported technology will come under the safeguards regime.
• It is important to note that while agreeing for a 'safeguards in perpetuity' clause, Indian negotiators have ensured that India's nuclear fuel supply will not be disturbed. The 'safeguards in perpetuity' clause doesn't allow India to shift any civilian facility back into the military list as the five nuclear weapons powers are allowed. The Indian government had a major concern on this issue.
  
• As a quid pro quo, India got 'in built' assurances of uninterrupted fuel supply for plants on the civilian list.

  Sources claim that what happened with the Tarapur Atomic Power Station near Mumbai where the supply of nuclear fuel was discontinued abruptly will not happen again, and that it is not such a bad deal to let have a 'safeguards in perpetuity' clause.
  Even after the deal, if fuel supply to any of nuclear plants is discontinued, India will have the right to help itself out. If one partner is not ready then another partner can help India out.

• In short, India certainly, will not be treated as a non-nuclear power State.

  But this is not a done deal yet. That will happen only after the US Congress approves it and changes US laws. The new agreement will be valid till 2014.

  Now that the Bush administration has found India's separation plan to be workable, India hopes President Bush will put his weight behind it to get it approved by the US Congress.

  Dr Singh will share the same plan with Parliament.

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