India has sovereign right to conduct N-tests: Mulford
India has the sovereign right to conduct nuclear test and that issue was never debated, the United States said today.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: India has the sovereign right to conduct nuclear test and that issue was never debated, the United States said today.
"If you ask me can India conduct (nuclear) test, my answer is India has had and will always have the sovereign right to conduct a test. That has never been debated," US Ambassador to India David C Mulford told a news channel.
India has got a "clean" waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to participate in global nuclear trade, he said.
He said it was not a "correct interpretation" to say that there would be a periodic review of the NSG waiver.
"But it is very important and understandable that a group like this (NSG), when an exceptional decision is being made, then there will be a continuation of exchange of views between parties," Mulford said.
Asked whether India has given a commitment not to conduct tests, the Ambassador said "it does not have to."
On the time-table for wrapping up the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said the 123 agreement will be placed before the US Congress for final nod "today, tomorrow (or in a) few hours" as it was "virtually ready" to be put up before it.
However, Mulford said the US Congress does business according to its own timetable. "The administration is in touch with senior Congressmen," he added.
Noting that there are reasons to be "hopeful" about getting a clearance from the Congress soon, the US diplomat said many US lawmakers would like to see that the agreement is cleared during the time of Bush administration itself.
"If you ask me can India conduct (nuclear) test, my answer is India has had and will always have the sovereign right to conduct a test. That has never been debated," US Ambassador to India David C Mulford told a news channel.
India has got a "clean" waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to participate in global nuclear trade, he said.
He said it was not a "correct interpretation" to say that there would be a periodic review of the NSG waiver.
"But it is very important and understandable that a group like this (NSG), when an exceptional decision is being made, then there will be a continuation of exchange of views between parties," Mulford said.
Asked whether India has given a commitment not to conduct tests, the Ambassador said "it does not have to."
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On the time-table for wrapping up the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said the 123 agreement will be placed before the US Congress for final nod "today, tomorrow (or in a) few hours" as it was "virtually ready" to be put up before it.
However, Mulford said the US Congress does business according to its own timetable. "The administration is in touch with senior Congressmen," he added.
Noting that there are reasons to be "hopeful" about getting a clearance from the Congress soon, the US diplomat said many US lawmakers would like to see that the agreement is cleared during the time of Bush administration itself.
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