Monday, November 7 2005 14:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India yesterday (Nov 6, 2005) night cautioned there could be 'problems' if 'only one side' was asked to take steps on implementation of the July 18 nuclear deal with the U S, days after Washington asked New Delhi to fulfill its commitments before Congressional approval could be sought on the agreement.

"The July 18 agreement with the US is on peaceful use of nuclear energy. There was an agreement that both sides will take steps mutually to implement it and no one would be asked to take steps without the other taking," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said here.

Noting that India had taken steps to fulfill its obligations, he said, "We hope the US administration will see that the agreement is carried through" in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

"But if only one side is asked to take steps, there can be problems," Singh said addressing the inaugural session of a conclave of India-Africa Project Partnership.

"I hope there will be no problems," he added.

The Bush administration had said on Thursday that it would not ask the US Congress to take legislative action that would end India's nuclear isolation unless New Delhi acted to fulfill its commitments, particularly 'the most important' one on separating its civilian and military facilities.

US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, during hearing before the Senate, said he had told, "The Indian leadership two weeks ago that it must craft a credible and transparent plan" and begin to implement it before the Bush administration sought Congressional approval.