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Details of Indo-US Nuclear Pact Unveiled

Disha UppalAugust 3, 2007

India and the United States have unveiled the text of their landmark civilian nuclear co-operation deal. It covers some thorny issues such as India’s reprocessing rights and is silent about others such as future nuclear tests by India.

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Inside an Indian nuclear power station control room
Inside an Indian nuclear power station control roomImage: dpa

The details of the controversial Indo-US Nuclear Deal have finally been made public. The 123 agreement, which was finalised on 27 July, took almost two years to complete. It explains how Washington and New Delhi's plan to share nuclear technology will work.

The 22-page document says the US will help India develop a strategic reserve of nuclear fuel for the lifetime of India's nuclear reactors, which New Delhi will place under international safeguards. The document also allows India to reprocess spent fuel, but again under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.

The Indian defence analyst C Uday Bhaskar is satisfied with the agreement: "It is flexible and respects the letter of the July 2005 agreement, which clearly made it clear that India would separate the civilian and the military. It will allow India to be admitted into the global community."

Military facilities not bound

The document also says that India’s military nuclear facilities will not be bound by this deal. But the unusual silence concerning the issue of nuclear testing by India surprised many in India and has raised concern.

India’s main opposition party, the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party dismissed the deal, saying it gave an upper hand to the US, which could pull out of the deal if India tested a nuclear device.

But Uday Bhaskar disagreed saying the issue was open to interpretation and India did not "intend to build a robust nuclear system". He said the issue had become very "emotive" but it was not a major policy issue as the US was aware that India was a "reluctant" nuclear power.

No military use

According to the text, the deal rules out the use of any transferred nuclear material for nuclear explosive devices, or for military purposes.

The Indo-US agreement will be valid for 40 years and is extendable by ten years. It can also be terminated with one year's notice, but the text says that prior to termination the two sides would hold consultations.

The deal still has to win the approval of the US Congress and the Indian parliament. And before it finally goes ahead, India will need to gain the support of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group and negotiate a safeguards agreement with the IAEA.