Burns' India visit on May 31 to boost Indo–US nuke deal talks

US undersecretary of state for political affairs and the key negotiator from the American side Nicholas Burns, who had put off a visit to India earlier this month has confirmed that he would be arriving in New Delhi, May 31, on a two–day visit in a bid to put back on track the stalled talks on the India–US civilian nuclear cooperation deal.

Earlier, being unable to come to a common consensus over the civilian nuclear cooperation deal, Burns had called off his upcoming visit to India, even as Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh continues to express hope of overcoming differences which, some fear, could scuttle the pact.

Frustration on both sides has been clear in recent weeks, but officials have remained cautiously optimistic about sealing the deal, seen as a cornerstone of an emerging partnership between the two countries.

"I am hopeful. We are in serious negotiations," Singh said when asked if he was worried the deal could fall apart.

The visit comes after Indian and US technical experts held two–day talks on the bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact in London May 21 and 22 during which India clarified its concepts on key issues like nuclear testing and demand for access to reprocessing technologies.

The much–heralded deal would give India access to US nuclear fuel and reactors for the first time in 30 years, even though New Delhi tested nuclear weapons and never signed the Nuclear Non–proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The deal was first struck in July 2005. It cleared a major hurdle in December when U.S. President George W. Bush signed a congressionally approved exception to American law to allow the shipment of civilian nuclear fuel to India.

But critics on both sides have complained that too much has been given to the other for too little in return, and the countries still need to settle significant differences.

Among the sticking points is India's displeasure with a clause that allows the United States to halt cooperation if New Delhi tests a nuclear weapon. Some in India also fear the deal could limit India's right to reprocess spent atomic fuel, a key step in making weapons–grade nuclear material, and thus hamper its long–standing weapons programme.

American critics, meanwhile, have claimed the plan would spark a nuclear arms race in Asia by allowing India to use the extra nuclear fuel that the deal would provide to free up its domestic uranium for its weapons programme.

The US has already said that it has domestic laws which cannot be changed for India and also obligations to the US Congress, while India, on its part, will not accept a ban on testing as a legally–binding commitment and restrictions on access to reprocessing technology. India has also reiterated in talks that it cannot accept anything that constricts India's strategic programme and its indigenous three–stage nuclear programme.

Both sides said that they understood these are red lines that cannot be crossed and that they have to work around this limitation.

Burns has indicated that his visit would be to "reach a final agreement" in the matter.

A final deal would mean U.S. civilian nuclear trade with India would be permitted in exchange for safeguards and U.N. inspections at India's 14 civilian nuclear plants. Eight military plants would be off–limits.