August 04, 2007	Saturday	Rajab 19, 1428

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: India's main opposition dismissed the Indo-US nuclear deal on Friday as “unsatisfactory” but atomic scientists gave it the thumbs up, saying the country's strategic interests had been safeguarded.

The communists, key allies of the ruling Congress party, said they wanted time to study the landmark civilian nuclear agreement before reacting.

Key defence scientist K. Santhanam said the deal was “historic” paving the way for India to meet its energy demands.

But J.P. Mathur, senior leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose last government staged nuclear tests in 1998, told newsmen: “It is an unsatisfactory deal.

“Washington could pull out of the deal if India tested a nuclear device.” Former BJP foreign minister Yashwant Sinha said Washington had offered no firm commitment to New Delhi regarding fuel supply, reprocessing and return of equipment as part of the nuclear deal.

“There are a lot of unenforceable commitments from the US in lieu of enforceable commitments from India,” he said.

The deal, clinched in Washington last month, wrapped up two years of negotiations and aims to bring New Delhi into the loop of global nuclear commerce after a gap of three decades.

Top nuclear scientist M.R Srinivasan said most of India's demands had been accommodated though some remained.

“As part of the full nuclear cooperation, we expected the US to give us enrichment technology, reprocessing and heavy water technology,” said Srinivasan.

But security analyst G. Balachandran hailed the accord as “exceptional.” Though Washington had not agreed to share these technologies “India has secured the right to reprocess spent fuel, a key demand from our side,” he said.

“The language of the text and the handling of various subjects have been exceptional and very, very distinct from the agreements the US has had with other countries.” The communists said they needed time to study the details of the 22-page accord.

“The text has just been released. We will not say anything before studying it thoroughly,” Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) told the Press Trust of India news agency.

The agreement spells out how a plan for Washington to share nuclear technology with New Delhi will work, including thorny issues like reprocessing rights and the creation of a fuel reserve for India.

One of the trickiest issues — whether India's unilateral decision not to test nuclear weapons would be made binding — appeared to have been sidestepped.

“Seeking the return of nuclear material from the US in the event of India testing a nuclear device, that power rests with the US president. But the demand to return is hedged by many conditions that includes talks,” Balachandran said.

The Indian government hailed the agreement last Friday after concluding talks in Washington, and before its publication.

National Security Advisor M.K. Narayananan described the deal as “excellent”.

“This is an agreement for cooperation in civil nuclear energy. It is not about the balance of power in the region,” he said with a nod to traditional enemy Pakistan.

However, Islamabad warned on Thursday the accord threatens regional stability, saying it would allow India to produce more atomic bombs.

The deal tries to address Pakistan's concerns, ruling out the use of any transferred nuclear material for nuclear explosive devices or for military purposes.

India's parliament is expected to debate the agreement in the new monsoon session starting August 10.

The deal must win approval of the US Congress and India's parliament but Balachandran said he did not forsee any problems.—AFP