Friday, September 9 2005 12:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States is in talks with its allies on the steps needed to fully realize civil nuclear cooperation with India, but success of these efforts will depend on timely implementation of commitments made by New Delhi under the US-India pact, a senior official has said.

The US has begun consultations with its international partners and conducted a number of introductory discussions with Congress on the steps necessary to fully realize civil nuclear cooperation with India, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert G Joseph said.

"We recognize that the pace of this effort and our ability to build NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) consensus relies on the timely implementation of Indian steps," he said referring to India's commitment to separate civil and military nuclear facilities.

He said Washington has indicated that the separation of civil and military facilities must be credible and defensible from a nonproliferation standpoint "to us and to our international friends and partners."

India "has not yet indicated how it intends to proceed on this score, but we will engage with India over the weeks and months ahead to develop a mutually acceptable approach to this key commitment," he told the House International Relations Committee here.

He said the segregation should be 'comprehensive' enough to strengthen the international nonproliferation regime and the speed with which it does so, will directly affect US efforts to build support for full civil nuclear cooperation with India in Congress and the NSG.