WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, July 27: The United States and India said on Friday that they have adopted an operating agreement for a landmark nuclear deal that apparently goes beyond terms approved by Congress.

“This marks another step in the continued progress that is deepening our strategic partnership with India, a vital world leader,” said President George W. Bush.

At the State Department, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the conclusion of the nuclear negotiations that began more than two years ago, calling it “a historic milestone” in Indo-US relations.

“The United States and India have reached a historic milestone in their strategic partnership by completing negotiations on the bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation,” Ms Rice said in a statement.

Later, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told a briefing that the deal was India-specific and the US would not offer a similar deal to Pakistan or any other country.

While Pakistan is “the most indispensable country in the world” for the United States in the fight against terrorism, it had a past with Dr A.Q. Khan’s nuclear network, he said.

Mr Burns also indicated that China and Pakistan could not have a separate bilateral agreement for similar nuclear cooperation, bypassing the 45-national Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Briefing journalists on the deal in New Delhi, India's National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan admitted that the “deal is not the best, but is a very good one.” In the same breath, he claimed that “India has retained its right to test.”

An Indian news report quoted US lawmakers as warning the Bush administration of “inconsistencies” in the 123 Agreement after reports that Washington had agreed to allow India to reprocess spent nuclear fuel under the civilian nuclear deal with New Delhi.