US endorses nuclear deal for India

The US Senate on Nov. 16 overwhelmingly endorsed a plan allowing the United States to ship civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India, handing President Bush an important victory on one of his top foreign policy initiatives. Senior lawmakers from both political parties championed the proposal, which reverses decades of US anti-proliferation policy, saying it strengthens a key relationship with a friendly Asian power that has long maintained what the United States considers a responsible nuclear program. The vote was 85-12. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) called the plan "a lasting incentive" for India to shun future nuclear weapons tests and "to cooperate closely with the United States in stopping proliferation." Congressional leaders had requested a secret intelligence assessment of India's nuclear program and its government's ties to Iran in January. Ten months later, as the Senate prepared to vote on the nuclear trade deal, congressional and intelligence sources told the Washington Post that the intelligence assessment had yet to be seen on Capitol Hill. But the lack of intelligence failed to inhibit the Senate from resoundingly approving the deal. Arms-control experts and critics argued that the plan would ruin the world's nonproliferation regime and rapidly boost India's nuclear arsenal. The extra civilian nuclear fuel that the deal would provide, they say, could free India's domestic uranium for use in its weapons program. Pakistan and China could respond by increasing their nuclear stockpiles, sparking a regional arms race. In addition, the deal will have major ramifications for US efforts to stop nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea. Three days after the Senate submitted their legislative approval, India successfully test-fired a medium-range nuclear-capable missile, days after its rival Pakistan launched a similar missile. The competing missile tests came after the countries concluded a crucial round of peace talks in New Delhi aimed at resolving their differences, including the thorny issue of their territorial dispute over the Himalayan region of Kashmir. India's test was "routine" and "part of the country's air defense exercises," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying. India routinely test-fires missiles it is developing for military use, as does Pakistan. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said that India had informed Pakistan ahead of time about the test, as is standard between the nuclear rivals. The day before, district authorities in Chandipur evacuated around 2,750 villagers living near the missile testing range to two large shelters about a mile away. US law forbids selling civilian nuclear technology to countries such as India that have refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But the new bill approved by the Senate carves out an exemption for India in exchange for Indian safeguards and inspections at its 14 civilian nuclear plants. However, eight military plants would be off-limits.