Thursday, July 21 2005 10:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington : Defending its decision to give aid to India on nuclear-power related issues, the Bush administration said there could be no equation between India and Pakistan on the matter and it was going to have individual ties with the two in the case of civil nuclear cooperation.

"There is no reason for us to have a hyphenated strategic framework for South Asia. There are issues where the US policy intersects and there are issues where we can have individual relationships with both countries. And certainly in the case of civil nuclear cooperation, we are going to have individual relationships," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said here yesterday (July 20, 2005).

"And, the fact is that India has a record of non-proliferation, which is exceptional; very strong commitment to protection of fissile material, other nuclear materials and nuclear technology; and there is a transparency about India's programme, which has been welcomed," he said.

"India has safeguarded reactors. In Tarapur, for instance, the reactors built long ago by American firms," Burns said.

"What is significant about the agreement (inked on June 18 between India and the US) is that New Delhi committed itself in public, very specifically to a series of actions to which it had not previously committed itself," the senior US official said.

Actions, which will in effect, have India agreeing to the same measures that most of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) states have agreed to, Burns said.

Under the joint statement issued by India and the US on Monday (July 18, 2005), Burns said New Delhi has agreed to fully separate its civil and military nuclear facilities and to place all the civil nuclear facilities under full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

"This includes monitoring and inspections; to sign an additional protocol, which is very important, and, for the first time, to join the United States and most of other nuclear powers in supporting a fissile material cut-off treaty," he said.

India has agreed to refrain from any transfer of sensitive equipment or enrichment and reprocessing technology, he said adding, they also agreed that they would maintain moratorium on nuclear testing.

"So we believe that the actions that the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) committed India to undertake will actually strengthen the non-proliferation regime and we are pleased about that and that is what was a benefit to the United States in agreeing to this construct in civil nuclear energy cooperation."

This kind of cooperation, said Burns, "is going to strengthen the ability of the US to be a partner of India on all associated issues that come up with this kind of peaceful nuclear relationship. So, we think it is a very good deal for us."

Burns said it is the wish of the US that all countries join the NPT, adding, India is yet to take a decision in this regard.

"So, we deal with the situation where a partner of ours, a friendly country, a very large country with significant energy needs is willing now to commit itself to undertake all quite invasive measures to safeguard its facilities. That is a benefit not just for the US, it is a benefit for the non-proliferation community, and it is a benefit for what all of us believe and that is these fissile materials, nuclear technologies, other sensitive technologies have to be safeguarded. And that will now be ensured," Burns said.