The NSG hurdle

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The NSG hurdle

From the very beginning the Indo-US nuclear agreement, which would ostensibly end India’s pariah status in the international nuclear arena, has been having a rough ride. Though Indian diplomacy has taken the credit for getting the India-specific safeguards agreement approved by the atomic watchdog IAEA, it may not have had such plain sailing without the firm backing of the US. However. the US proposal for a waiver to India with the Nuclear Suppliers Group is a different kettle of fish altogether. The NSG comprises 45 nations, each with different viewpoints regarding India’s refusal to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and getting its clearance might be a hard nut to crack. It may be recalled that in the August 21-22 meeting of the NSG at least 15 countries, including New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland had expressed strong reservations about the waiver proposal. Not only had they sought far reaching changes to the proposal’s draft, they had also suggested numerous amendments to make it subscribe to their own views on non-proliferation issues. The objections from some of the NSG members had forced India and the US to change their earlier stand of securing an “unconditional waiver” from that bloc, and instead request for a “clean waiver”. Since then a number of amendments have been made to a revised draft of the proposal to be placed before the NSG when it meets again on September 4-5.What these conciliatory amendments relate to will be known only when the NSG meeting debates on them. The concern of the people of India is that whatever these might be should not infringe on national interest, or serve to indicate that the country is bowing down to pressures subjected by the US and some other members of the international community. It must be noted that the UPA Government led by Manmohan Singh had staked its very survival on the successful outcome of the Indo-US nuclear agreement, having had to stand up to coercive tactics of the Left and ultimately part with the latter. With the Government’s reputation at stake, the danger that too many concessions inimical to India’s interests might be given to get the waiver proposal through, is very real. Pranab Mukherjee. India’s External Affairs Minister, and M. K. Narayanan, National Security Adviser have been at pains to stress that certain “red lines” drawn by India are deemed sacrosanct and will not be allowed to be crossed. The latter has reportedly cited any clause on testing, periodic review or denial of enrichment and reprocessing technology to be some of the issues that will not be acceptable to India. Commitments such as the above have been made by the Prime Minister to Parliament, and any deviation would be tantamount to a betrayal of the nation. No doubt, the Indo-US nuclear deal is vital to the future of the country, but India’s pride must not be sacrificed just to cross the NSG hurdle. SOURCE: ASSAM TRIBUNE EDITORIAL 02.09.08