India, Russia seal nuclear pact

Moscow: India and Russia have announced a breakthrough long-term pact in the field of civil nuclear cooperation that will be free of any restrictions and will also insulate India from any disruptions in the future. Elation for the Indian delegation would have been curbed only marginally by a measured Russian response not to favour amending the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) in order to grant India the status of a full-fledged nuclear weapons' state.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev at the Joint Press Conference, in Moscow, Russia

But since this would have been only an additional bonus, and with the original Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty very likely heading for a review to become a meaningful convention in a changed century and in a changed world order, it may well be a case of no gain-no loss.

Meanwhile, the civil nuclear deal, signed in the presence of prime minister Manmohan Singh and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on Monday is being described as ''better than the 123 agreement'' signed with the United States.

The 123 pact with the US, calls for the termination of ongoing nuclear cooperation and for the return to the US of equipment and fuel already supplied to India in the event of the nuclear agreement being terminated.

The new agreement with Russia binds it to ensure supply of nuclear fuel and technology to India even if the pact should be cancelled for any reason.