| What if India conducts nuclear tests? This | | | | "disruptions in supply to India that may result |
| question has remained a grey area even though | | | | through no fault of its own," such as a trade war |
| the Indo-US nuclear deal has been cleared by the | | | | or market disruptions. "The fuel supply assurances |
| US Senate. US Secretary of State Condoleezza | | | | are not, however, meant to insulate India against |
| Rice is coming to New Delhi for a two-day visit on | | | | the consequences of a nuclear explosive test or a |
| Saturday. Earlier it was reported that she would | | | | violation of nonproliferation commitments." |
| sign the 123 Agreement during her visit, but | | | | The Indian government has chosen to treat the |
| certain media reports now suggest that the 123 | | | | matter lightly as of now, insisting that none of |
| Agreement may not be ready for signing just | | | | clauses in the 123 treaty are binding on India's |
| yet, and will be signed in Washington next week. | | | | nuclear programme. Congress spokesperson |
| What is it that is now causing the delay? One | | | | Manish Tiwari said, "This is said by Bush to the US |
| thing is certain, that though the Nuclear Deal has | | | | Congress, and not our problem at all." But where |
| been cleared by a thumping majority in the US | | | | does that ultimately leave the question of nuclear |
| Senate, some clauses remain unclear to the public | | | | testing? What if India feels it necessary to test |
| as well politicians of our country. | | | | nuclear weapons in response to say, tests by |
| Apart from the controversial letter that was | | | | neighbouring countries China or Pakistan? The day |
| released by the Republican Howard L. Berman, | | | | the deal came through, amongst other comments |
| Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs | | | | the TOI reported that India would not be able to |
| Committee just a day before the NSG meet for | | | | conduct nuclear tests without inviting punishing |
| the waiver, raises more questions than it answers. | | | | sanctions. |
| The contents of the letter link the possibility of | | | | Part of the NSG waiver was based on the pledge |
| India conducting nuclear tests with the issue | | | | that India would not share sensitive nuclear |
| nuclear fuel supply by the US. Manmohan Singh | | | | technology or material with others and maintain its |
| and his government in the past have taken pains | | | | voluntary suspension on testing nuclear weapons. |
| to assure the country that India's testing of | | | | This outlines India's stance regarding the country's |
| nuclear weapons will not affect uninterrupted fuel | | | | disarmament and nonproliferation policies. As of |
| supply to India - whereas the letter seems to | | | | now this is satisfactory, but this admits no |
| suggest otherwise. The letter says that the | | | | provisions for unique situations in the future in |
| United States would help India deal only with | | | | case India needs to test nuclear weapons. |