The Hindu : Front Page : Hectic talks over nuclear deal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 02, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Hectic talks over nuclear deal

Amit Baruah

Manmohan briefs Cabinet Committee on negotiations with U.S.

BUSH IN DELHI: U.S. President George Bush and Laura Bush with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, on arrival in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan

NEW DELHI: India and the United States remained engaged in intensive negotiations to try and clinch a civilian nuclear deal even as U.S. President George W. Bush landed in the capital on Wednesday evening on a state visit.

This is the fifth visit by an American President to India.

Just before receiving Mr. Bush at the airport, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh briefed the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) on the latest developments relating to a possible civilian nuclear accord.

During a stopover in Kabul, Mr. Bush said officials had been talking to the Indians from his special aircraft and these discussions would continue in New Delhi.

Difficult issue

Reiterating that it was a difficult issue for both governments, the President said the two sides would continue to have a dialogue and work ... "and hopefully we can reach an agreement. If not, we'll continue to work on it until we do."

Permanent decision

At another briefing en route to New Delhi, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was "absolutely necessary" that once India put its nuclear reactors under safeguards, it was a "permanent" decision.

"So, we've got a couple of issues that are important ... that remain unresolved. But we're going to keep working it, whether or not there is a deal on this trip," she said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail