Wednesday, April 5 2006 17:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Acknowledging that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was 'controversial' as it was 'unorthodox', Washington today (Apr 5, 2006) said it was good for non-proliferation regime and sought to dispel apprehensions that it would lead to arms race between India and Pakistan.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said the endorsement of the deal by the US Congress may take some time as it is going to be a 'tough debate' there and people would ask a lot of questions.

"Frankly, I am not persuaded by the critics inside my own country. Some people say, well, this will lead to an arms race between Pakistan and India. We don't think so," Burns, who was the US interlocutor in negotiations on the deal, told sources.

"There is no reason why India should seek to use this opportunity to double or triple its strategic programme," he said, adding New Delhi wants 'safe relations' with Beijing and Islamabad.

Rejecting the allegations that the deal reflected double standards of the US, he said there was no comparison between India and Iran on nuclear issue.

"People say, well, it is double standard how can you treat India one way and Iran another. We say, quite easily, India is democratic. India plays by the rules. India wants the IAEA to come into its country.

"Iran is autocratic, doesn't play by the rules. It'strying to kick the IAEA out," he said and added "so there are responses, I think, persuasive responses to the critics".

He said, "There is no question this (deal) is controversial because it is unorthodox."