India assurance over nuclear deal

Saran says India is a 'responsible' economic power

India's foreign secretary has said a landmark nuclear deal with the US will not boost its nuclear weapons.

Shyam Saran told a meeting in Washington that India's record on nuclear issues has been "one of restraint and responsibility".

The deal, which is still to be ratified by the US Congress, gives India access to US nuclear technology.

It reverses US policy, which had restricted nuclear co-operation since India tested a nuclear weapon in 1974.

The agreement was finalised during US President George W Bush visit to India earlier this month.

"If this does not go through, there is no doubt there will be, in terms of the expectation that has been created, in terms of the enthusiasm that has been created, some falling back Shyam Saran

Under the deal, energy-hungry India will get access to US civil nuclear technology and open its nuclear facilities to inspection.

Correspondents say the deal might be hard to get through the US Congress. India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Critics of the deal say it sends the wrong message to countries like Iran, whose nuclear ambitions Washington opposes.

Mr Saran's trip to Washington comes as US and Indian officials try to persuade Congress to accept the agreement.

'Falling back'

"India cannot be a partner and target at the same time," Mr Saran told a meeting organised by Heritage Foundation.

"There is no reason why it should be expected that merely because we have an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, that suddenly the floodgates will be opened by India for a larger and larger nuclear weapons arsenal."

Mr Saran said if the agreement did not go through, there would be some "falling back" in India-US ties.

The deal was signed during President Bush's visit to India

"If this does not go through, it does not mean that everything else will fall by the wayside but at the same time we should also recognise that for good reason or bad, there is intense focus on this particular agreement," he said.

"Therefore whether we like it or not, this has become very symbolic of what we want to do with India-US relations."

Mr Saran said if India was expected to play a greater role in fighting terrorism "then it is only reasonable that the energy requirements of a country with such strong credentials is recognised".

India had finalised a plan to separate its military and civilian nuclear facilities, a move contingent on the deal going through.

Under the agreement, India will classify 14 of its 22 nuclear facilities as being for civilian use, and thus open to inspection.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has welcomed the deal, calling India "an important partner in the non-proliferation regime".

Those opposed to the deal, in the US Congress and elsewhere, disagree.

Many supporters of the NPT believe the deal ignores India's nuclear weapons programme. In India, too, critics have alleged that the country's tradition of non-alignment is being eroded as it forges closer ties with the US.