The NSG, at its August 21-22 meeting, failed to arrive at a consensus for the waiver for India as several countries raised non-proliferation issues and wanted amendments in the draft.

The NSG nod is essential to allow India to engage in civil nuclear cooperation with the international community, ending its 34-year long isolation in the field.

The countries having reservations, particularly New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, insisted on including a language that would address their non-proliferation concerns as India has a strategic nuclear programme despite which it is not a signatory to the NPT.

These countries are wanting provisions in the draft which would specify that India will be denied enrichment and reprocessing right and cooperation will end automatically if New Delhi conducts an atomic test in the future.

India, on its part, has made it clear that it will not accept any conditions in the waiver that would bind the country and suggested that it would walk out if any "prescriptive" elements are incorporated in the text.

Asserting that India will not allow itself to be pushed, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar yesterday said New Delhi wants civil nuclear cooperation with the world but it "does not mean at any cost".

After the NSG failed to arrive at a consensus at its last meeting, questions are being raised as to whether the US had done its bit adequately in garnering support as the onus was on it.

In view of this, US Ambassador to India David Mulford yesterday issued a statement, saying Washington would be working "vigorously", along with New Delhi, in persuading NSG countries to support the initiative.
Source : PTI