India reaches out to Japan for N-support

NEW DELHI: In a clear signal to the Left that the government has no intention of halting negotiations with the NSG, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to seek Japanese support for India in the NSG from his counterpart Shinzo Abe during the bilateral talks on Wednesday.

On a question of taking up the issue of civilian nuclear co-operation and support in the NSG with Mr Abe, foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, while briefing reporters about Mr Abe’s visit to India, replied, “Yes, we will.” India needs Japan’s approval in the 45-member NSG, which has to unanimously agree to allow international trade in nuclear fuel, technology and reactors with India.

Due to its well-known nuclear sensibilities, Japan is yet to announce its stand on India’s civilian nuclear energy aspirations and has said in the past that it is considering the option of extending support to India on the issue. India and Japan have an ongoing energy dialogue, and Mr Singh and Mr Abe will discuss the framework for civil nuclear co-operation under the energy dialogue umbrella.

But Mr Abe is unlikely to commit at this point as Tokyo, like others, is waiting for India to successfully complete negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the India-specific safeguards agreement. It’s learnt that Mr Abe’s focus will be on gaining support from India on his ‘Cool Earth 50’ climate change plan even as Mr Singh canvasses for Japan’s support in the NSG. India is keen on getting Japan’s expertise in setting up nuclear reactors.

Mr Singh’s engagement with Mr Abe on the nuclear issue is also a clear message to the Left that the government will not pause negotiations with the IAEA or the NSG. In fact, special envoy to the Prime Minister on nuclear issues Shyam Saran, who has been travelling in Europe to garner support for the Indo-US civilian nuclear co-operation, arrives in Brazil on Tuesday to make a formal request for support in the NSG.

Brazil, during an IBSA meeting, has already indicated its willingness to oblige. From Brazil, Mr Saran then travels to Argentina with the same objective.

Meanwhile, Mr Singh on Monday continued his defence of the nuclear deal by asking all political parties to “appreciate” that pursuing nuclear energy is in the national interest. “India is on the move and we must be able to address its growing energy demands,” Mr Singh said, while speaking at an ONGC function.