Washington: In an exercise aimed at silencing critics of the India-U.S. nuclear deal, the Bush administration has rejected charges that the pact would fuel an arms race in South Asia and set the stage for recognition of India as a nuclear weapons state.

As the administration faced an uphill task of getting the accord approved by Congress, the White House on Wednesday rebutted criticism of the pact, especially by those in the non-proliferation community a day after President George Bush met top lawmakers to discuss the agreement and seek their support.

No bad precedent

The White House said the deal does not set a bad precedent for countries like Iran, North Korea or Israel, fuel an arms race in the region, assist India's nuclear weapons programme or set the stage for its recognition as a nuclear weapons state.

"This is a historic agreement that brings India into the non-proliferation mainstream and addresses its growing energy needs through increased use of nuclear energy in cooperation with the international community."

"The U.S. has no intention of aiding India's nuclear weapons programme. India's plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities will allow other nations to cooperate with India's civilian facilities to expand energy production," it said.

Greater use of nuclear reactors to produce energy for Indians will not undermine regional stability.

It also made clear that the deal does not effectively recognise India as a nuclear weapons state. "The 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty defines a nuclear weapons state as `one which has manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device prior to January 1, 1967'. India does not meet this definition, and we do not seek to amend the Treaty."

The White House also countered the notion that as India's two developmental fast breeder reactors are outside the scope of international inspections, the country can make enough nuclear weapons to expand its arsenal.

"The understanding we have reached with India will significantly increase the number of Indian nuclear reactors under IAEA safeguards, as well as bring associated facilities under safeguards. At present, only four of India's nuclear power reactors are under safeguards."

Indian facilities under safeguards

"Under its civil-military separation plan, India has agreed to place the majority of its existing nuclear power reactors and those under construction under safeguards and to place the other associated upstream and downstream facilities that support those reactors under safeguards. Furthermore, India has committed to place all future civilian power and fast breeder reactors under safeguards," the White House said.

The administration rejected the notion that proceeding with the India deal undercuts America's dealing with Iran on the issue.

Testifying before the full International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said that unlike "autocratic" Iran, India was not rejecting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On the kind of international support the deal had, he said the IAEA, France, the United Kingdom and Australia have expressed support for the agreement. — PTI

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