Vienna: Forty-five nuclear supplier states today approved a US proposal to drop a ban on trade with India, advancing a US-Indian atomic energy deal, diplomats in the closed meeting told Reuters.
The decision followed a tense debate over conditions for the move demanded by Nuclear Suppliers Group members to minimise any damage to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which India has not joined. Details were not immediately known.
One hurdle remained before the US-India deal could take force — ratification by the US Congress. It must act before adjourning in late September for elections or the deal could be left to an uncertain fate under a new US administration.
Landmarks in Indo-US nuclear deal
1968: India refuses to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) on the grounds that it is discriminatory.
May 18, 1974: India conducts its first nuclear test.
Mar 10, 1978: US President Jimmy Carter signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act, following which US ceases exporting nuclear assistance to India.
May 11-13, 1998: India tests five underground nuclear tests.
Jul 18, 2005: US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh first announce their intention to enter into a nuclear agreement in Washington.
Mar 1, 2006: Bush visits India for the first time. March 3, 2006: Bush and Singh issue a joint statement on their growing strategic partnership, emphasising their agreement on civil nuclear
cooperation.
Jul 26, 2006: The US House of Representatives passes the ‘Henry J Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006,’ which stipulates that Washington will cooperate
with New Delhi on nuclear issues and exempt it from signing the Nonproliferation Treaty.
Jul 28, 2006: The Left parties demand threadbare discussion on the issue in Parliament.
Nov 16, 2006: The US Senate passes the ‘United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation and US Additional Protocol Implementation Act’ to ‘exempt from certain requirements of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954 United States exports of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology to India.’
Dec 18, 2006: President Bush signs into law congressional legislation on Indian atomic energy.
Jul 27, 2007: Negotiations on a bilateral agreement between the United States and India conclude.
Aug 3, 2007: The text of the ‘Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of India concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy’ (123
Agreement) is released by both governments.
Aug 13, 2007: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh makes a suo motu statement on the deal in Parliament.
Aug 17, 2007: CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat says the ‘honeymoon (with government) may be over but the marriage can go on’.
Sep 4, 2007: UPA-Left committee to discuss nuclear deal set up.
Feb 25, 2008: Left parties say the UPA would have to choose between the deal and its government’s stability.
Mar 3, 2008: Left parties warn of ’serious consequences’ if the nuclear deal is operationalised.
Mar 6, 2008: Left parties set a deadline asking the government to make it clear by March 15 whether it intended to proceed with the nuclear deal or drop it.
Mar 7, 2008: CPI writes to the Prime Minister, warns of withdrawal of support if government goes ahead with the deal.
Mar 14, 2008: CPM says the Left parties will not be responsible if the government falls over the nuclear deal.
Apr 23, 2008: Government says it will seek the sense of the House on the 123 Agreement before it is taken up for ratification by the American Congress.
Jun 17, 2008: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee meets Prakash Karat, asks the Left to allow the government to go ahead with IAEA safeguards agreement.
Jun 30, 2008: Prime Minister says his government prepared to face Parliament before operationalising the deal.
Jul 8, 2008: Left parties withdraw support to government.
Jul 9, 2008: The draft India-specific safeguards accord with the IAEA circulated to IAEA’s Board of Governors for approval.
Jul 10, 2008: Prime Minister calls for a vote of confidence in Parliament.
Jul 14, 2008: The IAEA says it will meet on August 1 to consider the India-specific safeguards agreement.
Jul 18, 2008: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon briefs the IAEA Board of Governors and some NSG countries in Vienna on the safeguards agreement.
Jul 22, 2008: Government is willing to look at ‘possible amendments’ to the Atomic Energy Act to ensure that the country’s strategic autonomy will never be compromised, says Prime Minister
Singh.
Jul 22, 2008: UPA government wins trust vote in the Lok Sabha.
Jul 24, 2008: India dismisses warning by Pakistan that the deal will accelerate an atomic arms race in the sub-continent.
Jul 24, 2008: India launches full blast lobbying among the 45-nation NSG for an exemption for nuclear commerce.
Jul 25, 2008: IAEA secretariat briefs member states on India-specific safeguards agreement.
Aug 1, 2008: IAEA Board of Governors adopts India-specific safeguards agreement unanimously.
Aug 21-22, 2008: The NSG meet to consider an India waiver ends inconclusively amid reservations by some countries.
Sep 4-6, 2008: The NSG meets for the second time on the issue after the US comes up with a revised draft and grants waiver to India after marathon parleys.
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