US pushing hard for Indo-US nuclear agreement

THE CRUCIAL DEAL: US would have the right to end the agreement if India tested a nuclear weapon.

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Washington: The US senate has begun hearings on the nuclear deal. The discussions are crucial to ensure safe passage of the Indo-US nuclear agreement before this session of Congress ends.

The Bush Administration is pushing hard in the Senate to get the Indo-US nuclear accord endorsed before September 26 and has clearly spelt out that it has made a "political commitment" to India to ensure a "reasonable steady supply" of nuclear fuel under the 123 agreement.

"Should disruptions arise, for example trade disputes, a commercial firm fails to meet its requirement, then, we are firmly determined to do everything we can to help in that instance", Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns told the Senate Powerful Foreign Relations Committee, which held an extended hearing on the deal.

The push by the administration also got the backing of some key lawmakers who favoured a fast track process for the initiative, which is being termed as a cornerstone of a new relationship with an emerging Asian power.

Top senators have demanded a guarantee that India will not use American fuel supplies in its nuclear weapons programme.

Lawmakers also want to know if the US would have the right to end the agreement and demand the return of supplies, if India tested a nuclear weapon.

"It would be well advised to approve it this month rather than wait till next year," Democratic Senator Chris Dodd who chaired a meeting last night of the Senate Foreign relations committee on the nuclear deal said.