| N-deal timeline: Dates to watch out for |
| BS Reporter / New Delhi October 8, 2007 |
| The progress of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal has had its fair share share of ups and downs. Here is a political calendar of dates to watch out for: END OF OCTOBER 2007: A draft of the India-specific nuclear safeguards must go the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This will seek to convince the rest of the world that despite not signing the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, India will submit to IAEA's regiment of ensuring there is no subterfuge in its civilian nuclear programme. By doing this, India will commit itself to visits by IAEA inspectors to monitor civilian power plants to certify there is no diversion of fissile material. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: Because in order to take the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement forward, those who are committed to non-military uses of nuclear power must be convinced that India is committed to this as well. END OF DECEMBER 2007: The Nuclear Suppliers' Group, created in 1974 to guard against transfer of nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes to military use, will discuss whether India can be trusted with nuclear transfers for peaceful purposes and to assess whether there was any chance of the transfers not being diverted to an unsafe nuclear fuel cycle or nuclear explosive activities. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: Without the 45-member NSG |
