NSG meet: Hyde Act casts its shadow

22 August 2008

Vienna: If the proceedings at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meet in Vienna are being correctly reported then the Indo-US nuclear initiative may be headed for deep trouble.

Diplomats are being quoted as saying that up to 20 NSG states have tabled conditions for nuclear trade with India despite the country's stress on a "clean, unconditional" exemption from rules which bar trade with a non-signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

A Reuters report quotes a European diplomat as saying that there were proposals on "practically every paragraph." These include full-scope UN inspections of Indian nuclear sites, no more test explosions as well as periodic reviews of Indian compliance with the exemption. This last, if implemented, would be a first in the NSG's 33-year history.

However, a US diplomat struck an optimistic note, saying, "I think there is a lot of support for (this deal) internationally. So I remain optimistic that we are going to be successful in this process," John Rood, US undersecretary of state for non-proliferation, told reporters outside the meeting.

Approval from this 45-nation group, or cartel, is needed before the deal may proceed to the US Congress for final ratification. The deal has disarmament critics up in arms as they feel provisions in the deal are too vague to be safeguarded.

The fact that India has never joined the NPT also does not help. India is one of only three nations, along with Israel and Pakistan, not to have signed the non-proliferation treaty. It conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 and another in 1998 and currently observes a voluntary moratorium.