NEW DELHI: An agreement to implement the July 18, 2005 civilian nuclear deal between India and the United States may not be clinched by the time President George W. Bush arrives here in March, a senior American official said on Friday.

Addressing a joint press conference, U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said that for any agreement to be credible with the American Congress and the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, it would have to be detailed and substantial.

Despite negotiations with India that had been going on for the past six months to implement the July 18 deal there were "still further ways to go," Mr. Burns said.

Optimism

Pointing out that the two sides had their work cut out for the next several weeks, Mr. Burns stressed, "We have to see if we can be successful. I hope we can."

After his joint press conference with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, the two officials went into a huddle inside the office of Joint Secretary (External Publicity) Navtej Sarna in Shastri Bhavan. No explanation was offered about what the two officials discussed.

"Substantive aspects"

Mr. Saran claimed it was the first time that the two sides were going into the "substantive aspects" of the proposed agreement. India had a better understanding of the American approach to the possible agreement.

"We have come to the conclusion that we need to discuss this in greater detail in the coming days and weeks," the Foreign Secretary said.

He revealed that India had shared with the U.S. plans to significantly expand its civilian nuclear programme and the scope of the international cooperation this would require.

On Iran, Mr. Saran said in the presence of Mr. Burns that India remained "very supportive" of the European initiative to "engage" Iran in finding an amicable solution to some of the issues raised with regard to Teheran's nuclear programme.

Against confrontation

India felt that a confrontation with Iran should be avoided. Asked whether India's position on Iran was related to the civil nuclear deal clearing the U.S. Congress, he said this accord "stands on its own merits."

After the briefing, the Foreign Secretary told some journalists that India would prefer that the Iran issue remained within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

This position was taken by Mr. Saran himself while justifying the September 24, 2005 Indian vote against Iran.

Burns to visit Islamabad, Colombo

Mr. Burns, who is also travelling to Islamabad and Colombo, said the U.S. was concerned about the level of violence and the breakdown of the ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

The Under Secretary said he planned to meet the Sri Lankan Government and the Norwegian intermediaries.

The U.S., he added, wanted to make sure it was standing on the side of those who wanted to preserve the ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

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