US recognises India as N-power

The US today recognised India as a nuclear weapons power and agreed to provide fuel for the Tarapore Atomic Power Plant. According to highly placed sources, Washington agreed to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear energy after recognising India as a nuclear weapons state.

This emerged after discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W Bush at the White House. The two leaders met for nearly two hours on the second day of Singh's three-day state visit.

The two countries today reached a milestone in their strategic relationship by successfully completing the next steps in strategic partnership (NSSP).

This will enable the US to remove export licence requirements for unilaterally controlled nuclear items to most end-users and revise export licence requirements for certain items going to safeguard civil nuclear power facilities.

After their talks, Bush announced at a joint press conference that they had agreed to increase co-operation in civilian nuclear energy, space and high technology issues.

"Today we announce the completion of the NSSP. Completing this partnership will help us further enhance our co-operation in the areas of civil nuclear, civil space and high technology commerce," he said.

The Prime Minister thanked Bush for his personal role and interest in facilitating a solution on the issue of removal of restrictions on nuclear and high technology supplies.

At the press conference, Bush said there was no change in Washington's policy that the sanctity of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir should be maintained and that India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir problem mutually.

India and the US also signed a series of agreements, including in the field of energy, science and technology, enhancement of economic dialogue and global democracy initiatives.

The pact on science and technology is aimed at promoting technological and scientific cooperation in areas of mutual benefit. The pact for the first time establishes intellectual property right protocols and other provisions necessary to conduct active collaborative research.

The agreement will accelerate cooperation between Indian and US scientists in government agencies, private sector and academia in areas like basic sciencies, space, energy, nano-technology, health and information technology.

This will advance scientific understanding and benefit of the peoples of the two countries, an official spokesman said.