New York: Claiming that Bush Administration had erred in making the civilian nuclear deal a "centrepiece" of Indo-US ties, a leading daily here has demanded stronger curbs by Nuclear Suppliers Group on India if its tests a nuclear weapon.

The NSG should set conditions that its members would halt nuclear trade with India and ban sale of equipment that can make nuclear fuel for reactor or weapons if New Delhi tests an atomic weapon, the New York Times said in an editorial published today. "If the suppliers group fails to set these conditions, it will be far too easy for New Delhi to do an end-run around Washington and buy technology and fuel from states that are even more eager to make a buck," it said.

Welcoming the non-binding bipartisan resolution moved in the House seeking severe curbs on the nuclear deal, the Times said the concerns expressed should bolster the skeptics in the suppliers group who fear that the agreement could benefit New Delhi's weapons programme as much as its pursuit of nuclear power.

The deal would also make it even harder to rein in ambitions of nuclear wannabes, including Iran, it said. President George W Bush, the Times said, is right when he says that the United States needs to develop strong ties with democratic India.

"But he erred in making a nuclear deal the centrepiece of that relationship. And he erred by being so eager for a deal that sufficient thought wasn't given to its implications. Now it's up to Congress and other countries to try to limit the damage," it added.