U.S., India finalize nuclear deal
The U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh finalized a historic nuclear power deal after Thursday’s talks in New Delhi, BBC reported.
Under the agreement, the U.S. will share its civilian nuclear technology with India, even though New Delhi won’t sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In return, India will have to separate its military nuclear program and open its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspection.
The deal represents a major shift in the policy of the U.S., which imposed temporary sanctions on India in 1988 after it concluded nuclear tests.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the talks, Bush called the nuclear deal a “historic agreement”.
The American President also acknowledged that it may be difficult to sell the agreement to the U.S. congress, which has to endorse it. But he insisted that "It's a necessary agreement. It's one that will help both our peoples.”
Singh said that New Delhi had finalized a plan to separate its military and civilian nuclear facilities, a move necessary for the deal to be implemented.
Most Indians oppose the U.S.-India nuclear deal, and had been urging the government to cancel it.
Communist parties and Muslim groups are opposed to Bush’s visit to India, and are leading protests across the country.
A meeting of the Indian parliament has been delayed after MPs from communist and socialist parties organized a sit-in to protest Bush’s visit.
Tens of thousands of people have also gathered at a large ground in New Delhi. On Wednesday, more than 100,000 protesters, mainly Muslims, rallied at the same venue.
Thousands of Indians also held a demonstration in the eastern city of Calcutta in a protest organized by 30 leftist groups.
The protesters carried placards that read: "Bully Bush, Go Home," and chanted "Death to Bush."
Many Indians oppose the U.S.’s foreign policy, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. India, a predominantly Hindu nation of more than 1 billion people, has the world’s second-largest population of Muslims.
During his visit, President Bush will also go to the southern city of Hyderabad, one of India's high-technology hubs.
The U.S. President will go to neighboring Pakistan on Saturday, where he says he will mediate between Islamabad and New Delhi in resolving the decades-long Kashmir dispute.
On Thursday morning, an explosion took place near the U.S. consulate in the Pakistani capital, Karachi, killing more than four people, including an American working at the consulate.
But Bush said the attack in Karachi won’t prevent him from traveling to Pakistan.
