Key Senator tones down opposition to nuclear bill

A Republican Senator who was critical of the nuclear pact appears to have diluted his reservations.

Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has not committed support to the deal but appears to be more reassured about India being a responsible nuclear power and that the proposed nuclear Bill will not aid proliferation.

In an interview to Indianapolis Star, Lugar said India could not be ignored any more, having become a major player economically and politically.

"Ultimately, it will have the largest population in any country, and it does have a working democracy, and it has potential compatibility with our democracy and democracies around the world that are important for our mutual trust and security", Lugar said.

The dilemma, however, was that "India developed a bomb with no word to the rest of the world as did Pakistan right after that. And that has been a source of deep concern for the non-proliferation community," he said.

Lugar said if he was "finally satisfied" that the new strategic relationship was in the best interest of the US, that there were considerable safeguards with regards to nuclear fuel, and that the Bill would lead to substitution of hydrocarbons by nuclear fuel, "then I'm likely to favour the legislation".

Lugar warned against isolationist tendencies in the Congress and said there was a general suspicion of international agreements. But, he said, "My guess is that in due course, a majority of members of the Senate are probably going to come down on the side of the legislation".

Asked if the deal would encourage "rogue" nations to make nuclear weapons, Lugar said if other countries were to make non-proliferation efforts the way India had done, they would be given recognition as well.

Suggesting he had Pakistan and Iran in mind, he said these countries might deserve recognition if they declared their programmes were for peaceful purposes and open to international inspections.