Devil's Advocate: Ex-NSA says N-deal is a must for India

QUOTE UNQUOTE: Brajesh Mishra says it will be a loss for India not to go ahead with the N-deal.

          

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Keywords: National Security Advisor, Brajesh Mishra

Brajesh Mishra: It is bound to be closed. But unlike the NPT, which was a discriminatory treaty because it allowed some countries to have nuclear weapons and not others, CTBT is applicable to all. There is no discrimination in CTBT.

Karan Thapar: Which is why it would be impossible for India to hold out.

Brajesh Mishra: India cannot hold back. India will have to sign it and we will have no argument to go against it.

Karan Thapar: Given that what you have just said are political parties mistaken in rejecting the Indo-US nuclear deal on the grounds that it would stop India from carrying out further nuclear tests or on the grounds that it does damage to India’s nuclear deterrent?

Brajesh Mishra: Well so far as these two questions are concerned, in my view we are not restricted from carrying out tests and, more or less, the programme we had devised before we left the NDA government is on-going.

Karan Thapar: So it follows to reject the deal on these two grounds is mistaken?

Brajesh Mishra: Rejecting is too strong word. Rejecting is too strong a thing to do and I would not agree with it.

Karan Thapar: On these two specific issues has the BJP consulted you and sought your advice?

Brajesh Mishra: I have not been consulted by the BJP in the last four months or more.

Karan Thapar: Even though you were National Security Advisor of that government.

Brajesh Mishra: I had resigned from the party before I took over, so my connections with the BJP were severed at that time.

Karan Thapar: You have an authoritative opinion and they have not sought your advice.

Brajesh Mishra: Well, you may consider it to be authoritative opinion, I may consider it to be (but) they need not.

Karan Thapar: Do you accept the view that if the nuclear deal is not passed while George W Bush is the US President, it is unlikely the same favourable terms will be offered to India by any successive administration?

Brajesh Mishra: Yes, my view is the following. In any negotiation you have two parties. If you want to renegotiate any clause or aspects of the treaty, the other party is equally entitled to it. A new administration, whether Republican or Democratic, may have some other ideas regarding the treaty. It will become very, very difficult to renegotiate the treaty and have the same treaty for you to sign.

Karan Thapar: So if you want the same treaty on the same favourable terms, it is now or never?

Brajesh Mishra: It is now. It is now.

Karan Thapar: How serious a loss of face it would be for India if the Government were unable to clinch the deal?

Brajesh Mishra: In my view it will be a severe loss of face for the Government both domestically and internationally. Having promoted the deal in India and abroad—after all, our negotiators have been talking to various countries in the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group)—having promoted the deal so much and so strongly, not to go through with it is a loss of face for the Government of India and for India.

Karan Thapar: Would it also be a serious set back for India's hopes of acquiring dual use technology and India's hopes of being able to develop a civil nuclear energy sector?