WASHINGTON, June 27: A congressional panel endorsed a US plan on Tuesday to share civilian nuclear technology with India, a crucial first step toward approval of the deal.

Supporters called it a defining moment in US-Indian relations.

A Republican lawmaker, however, said the deal ‘knifed’ the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and called it a sad day for efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.

The 37-5 vote in the House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee was for legislation to exempt India from US laws that restrict nuclear trade with countries that have not submitted to full nuclear inspections. India developed its nuclear weapons program outside the NPT, which it has refused to sign.

Separate legislation on the deal was to be considered on Wednesday by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The full House and Senate would also have to approve legislation, then reconcile differences between their bills.

While the bill enjoyed support from several major lawmakers, some were skeptical.

Republican Rep. Jim Leach said passage of the Bush administration plan would open the door for ‘a whole host’ of countries to press claims for similar nuclear cooperation. He mentioned both friendly nations _ South Korea and Japan _ and those the United States considers unsavory _ Iran and North Korea.

“The NPT has been knifed by an executive action,” Mr Leach said. “Anyone who wants to present this as a happy day is making a very serious mistake.”

The legislation lawmakers considered on Tuesday was based on an original bill proposed by the Bush administration. Rep. Henry Hyde, Republican chairman of the House committee, said the earlier bill was ‘profoundly unsatisfactory’ because it removed Congress’s oversight role.—AP

Opinion

Editorial

Environment Day
05 Jun, 2023

Environment Day

OUR world is not reusable nor can it be made perishable. As the plastic tide spins out of control, World Environment...
Spending for votes
05 Jun, 2023

Spending for votes

THE cash-strapped government’s plans to boost its annual development spending by as much as 31pc in the next...
On schadenfreude
Updated 05 Jun, 2023

On schadenfreude

Was it a ‘crime’ that he spoke out against the abuses being suffered by PTI workers at the hands of the state?
Surveillance state
Updated 04 Jun, 2023

Surveillance state

IN the midst of the madness, finally some sanity. Questions critical to the right to privacy of citizens bombarded ...
Transport crisis
04 Jun, 2023

Transport crisis

LIKE many other public-sector projects, governments past and present have promised numerous times to ‘revive’ ...
The Buzdar mystery
04 Jun, 2023

The Buzdar mystery

THE departure of former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar from politics is not really surprising as the PTI is...