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PM sails through with N-deal, all eyes on US now
Published on Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 07:42, Updated at Thu, Jul 24, 2008 in World section
Tags: Indo-US Nuclear Deal, Washington , Washington
VIEW FROM WASHINGTON: Experts say India's agreement will go through NSG very quickly.
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Washington: US officials and lawmakers on Capitol Hill close to the Indo-US nuclear agreement were watching intently as the trust vote unfolded in the Indian Parliament on Tuesday.
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emerged victorious, there was immediate reaction in Washington, where's there's fresh optimism that the agreement is back on track now.
Experts say now India must act quickly to make sure it can deliver the agreement back to the US Congress for a final mandatory approval before the Congressional calendar expires in September.
The agreement enjoys support among Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. And lawmakers are expected to give a thumbs-up to the deal only if India sends it back in time.
“We all know that India could be one of the most significant countries in the world but it’s just got to have an energy source that can be counted upon, and that's the good news about nuclear power. It’s very a reliable form of power, it’s very clean and it'll be very beneficial to the people of India,” Congressman Joe Wilson says.
Experts believe the agreement will sail through the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) with member countries including UK, Australia and Russia backing the agreement.
“It will go through very quickly through NSG because I know the American diplomats have been working on this issue and the Indians, of course, are pushing it. I've heard that other countries that are regarded as problems are going to support it," South Asia expert, Stephen Cohen says.
The White House says it will lobby the US Congress to make sure the legislation is ratified before the Congressional calendar expires later this year.
Towards the end of the year the US Congress is likely to get busy with Presidential elections.
Jim McDermott, Co-Chair Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, says, “As a practical matter, it will be very difficult. The primary focus in America over the next few months will be on politics leading up to the November election in which the American people will elect a new President.”
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