US urges suppliers to back Indian nuke deal

The deal would enable India, long treated as a nuclear pariah, to receive American atomic technology and fuel, even though it has not signed the benchmark arms control pact, the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has atomic bombs.

The pact has coincided with an escalation of American and international efforts to limit the nuclear activities of Iran, an NPT signatory, to ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons.

Signed earlier this month, the agreement must still win the approval of the US Congress and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), 45 countries that possess the most advanced nuclear technology and who met in Vienna on Thursday.

"We are confident that it's not the death knell of the NPT," Stephen Rademaker, acting US assistant secretary for arms control, told reporters. "To the contrary, we think bringing India into the international non-proliferation regime will strengthen the regime."

The United States is also keen to promote India's civilian nuclear programme in the hope of reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, thereby easing pressure on oil prices.

Under the agreement, India has pledged to separate its civilian and nuclear facilities and to sign up to UN nuclear supervision of the civilian sites. It would also tighten controls on exports of nuclear equipment.

Washington argues that such a move would be a valuable improvement. Critics say it is not enough as the deal does not oblige India to take any steps towards dismantling its nuclear arsenal, a key requirement for NPT signatories.