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U.S. `no' to help India set up n-plants

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI Feb. 16. The United States has declined to help India set up nuclear power plants, highly-placed sources told this correspondent. It was also not keen on civilian space cooperation with India at this stage.

The issue of possible cooperation in the civilian nuclear and space areas was raised by India some time ago. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his visit to New York in September last, had referred to the scope in high-technology cooperation. He had also called for the implementation of decisions that had been taken between the two countries in this area.

Asked about the recent Indo-U.S. decision to set up a high-technology cooperation group and agreement on a statement of principles, the sources said that, as of now, this was what it was — a statement of principles. Appreciating the value of setting up such a group and the agreement on the statement of principles, the sources said India would like to see how these principles would be actualised.

The group, set up earlier this month, is the first of its kind between India and the U.S. — a point made by both the countries when the forum came into being. There is little doubt that as the U.S. and India cooperate on a range of issues and keep up the exchange of visits, there is scope for disappointment that the relationship is not moving forward fast enough. And, as far as India is concerned, Washington's "no" to civilian nuclear and space cooperation does fit into the disappointment category.

Though the momentum in engagement remains solid and India and the U.S. also signed an agreement not to hand over each other's nationals to a third country, New Delhi had hoped for some positive movement in civilian nuclear and space cooperation. On another aspect, India has also been referring to the double standards of the international community in cooperating with Pakistan even while it continues to allow terrorist groups to operate against India. New Delhi has repeatedly called on the international community to get Pakistan to keep to its commitment to end cross-border terrorism.

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