The United States has said that the US-Indo pact on civil nuclear cooperation was one of Bush administration's 'top foreign and legislative priorities', brushing aside calls by some democrats to link it with New Delhi's support to American policies on strategic issues.
Testifying before the House Committee on International Relations on Thursday, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said the deal was a 'major Presidential initiative' aimed at deepening bilateral ties between the two countries.
India and the US signed the historic deal on civil nuclear cooperation during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Singh's path-breaking visit to the US in July.
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The landmark agreement will address India's energy needs, assign it same responsibilities and practices as others with advanced nuclear programme and bring New Delhi into the global non-proliferation order, he said.
"This is a major presidential initiative, one that seeks to bring about full civil nuclear energy cooperation between the United States and India," he said.
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The pact could be implemented only after Congress gives its approval for making certain changes in the American laws to allow the transfer of technology.
"I believe it is a good and sound agreement that will have the effect of progressively integrating India into the global nonproliferation order," Burns, who negotiated the pact with India, said.
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