Tuesday, July 19 2005 11:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Highly satisfied with the United States (US) decision to lift sanctions imposed on it 31 years ago in the wake of Pokhran nuclear tests, India has asserted that commitments given by it in return were not 'too onerous' and were exactly what other nuclear weapon states had accepted.

Recognition of India as a 'responsible state with advanced nuclear technology' by President George Bush, and his decision to supply fuel for nuclear reactors at Tarapur, as outlined in the joint statement issued after his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here yesterday (July 18, 2005) is seen by the Indian side as an implicit acceptance of New Delhi's nuclear weapons status.

"What has been achieved is recognition by the US that, for all practical purposes, India should have the same benefits and rights as a nuclear weapons state." Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said at a media briefing on the outcome of Singh-Bush discussions yesterday (July 18, 2005).

The reciprocal obligations undertaken by India such as separating its civilian and military nuclear facilities and voluntarily placing the former under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were no more or no less than those committed to by any other nuclear weapons state, he said.