Devil's Advocate: 'N-deal India's passport to the world'

DEAL OR NO DEAL? If N-deal is not processed in the present Congress, it is unlikely it will be offered again, says Mulford.

          

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In other words they made a statesman-like stand together in our political system. Afterwards, as the 123 Agreement was negotiated, many members of the Congress took the view that this agreement is extremely favourable to India. So when you add up all those things, I think Americans are puzzled that this agreement wasn’t immediately embraced and activated by India.

Karan Thapar: If for some reason India were not to go ahead with the deal while President Bush is President, would it therefore be the case that in the next two or three years that follow before a second agreement can be reached with a new administration what might then be on offer to India may not be as advantageous or even as generous as is available now?

David Mulford: My opinion is that if this is not processed in the present Congress it is unlikely this deal will be offered again to India. It certainly would not be revived and offered by any administration, Democrat or Republican, before 2010, which is after the life of this particular administration in India.

If it were to be revived it would have to go through a committee process in the Congress and I think the non-proliferation groups would insist on changes in many of the terms. So I think the atmosphere is changing and therefore I believe and I know that both Democrats and Republicans believe in the US that this is the time to finish this deal and put it through the Congress.

Karan Thapar: In other words you are saying it is now or may be never.

David Mulford: That is pretty close to it.

Karan Thapar: Have you considered the possibility of personally meeting Prakash Karat and AB Bardhan and reassure them about their concerns?

David Mulford: I have the impression that Mr Karat is not interested in meeting with Americans, but I am ready to meet him anytime if he would wish to.

Karan Thapar: What would be the impact on the wider relationship if India doesn’t move ahead?

David Mulford: I think that is a very complicated question because the relationship has become so gigantic. I would say for the bulk of the relationship it will damage: the private relationship, civil, people-to-people, companies, foreign direct investment and all the aspects we follow every day.

I do think at the heart of the official bilateral relationship where in the past years there has been this effort—the civil nuclear deal is part of it, not the only thing—to overcome some of the distrust, suspicion, misunderstandings of the past.

This is very, very important: the civil nuclear deal was supposed to be the vehicle that would lay those things to rest forever. So I think there has to be some concern about elements of trust and discretion at the core of that relation. Not insurmountable but I think it won’t quite remove some of those problems that we both countries have been working to overcome.

Karan Thapar: You are saying to me that is a containable impact but it is not a damage?

David Mulford: I think it probably is.

Karan Thapar: Ambassador Mulford, thank you for talking to us.