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U.S. Wins International Nod For Nuclear Sales To India

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The Associated Press

Published: September 7, 2008

VIENNA, Austria - The United States gained key international backing Saturday for a bitterly contested plan to sell peaceful nuclear technology to India - a South Asia powerhouse that has tested atomic weapons but has refused to sign global nonproliferation accords.

Washington said the landmark deal, which needs U.S. congressional approval, will place India's nuclear program under closer scrutiny. Detractors, however, warned it could set a dangerous precedent in efforts to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction.

"By establishing a 'good guys' and 'bad guys' set of rules, the decision will make it far harder to curb the South Asian nuclear and missile arms race," said Daryl Kimball, who heads the Washington-based Arms Control Association. Kimball said the deal could undermine efforts to contain Iran and North Korea.

Saturday's approval by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group dealt "a profound setback to the nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament system that will produce dangerous ripple effects for years to come," he said.

The group, which governs the legal world trade in nuclear components and know-how, signed off on the deal after three days of contentious talks in Vienna and some concessions to countries insistent on holding India to its promises not to touch off a new nuclear arms race.

The trade waiver paves the way for a U.S. reversal of more than three decades of policy. India has been subject to a nuclear trade ban since it first tested an atomic weapon in 1974. The country conducted its most recent test blast in 1998.

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