Amidst political wrangling in New Delhi on the recently concluded Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation, the US is confident that the deal would sail through the opposition both here and in Washington.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Amidst political wrangling in New Delhi on the recently concluded Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation, the US is confident that the deal would sail through the opposition both here and in Washington.
US Senator Joe Lieberman, currently in New Delhi, met senior BJP leader L K Advani and has found that the two main coalitions of the country- ruling Congress led UPA and its predecessor BJP led NDA have "shared commitments" about the need for a bilateral strategic partnership.
Though Lieberman refused to divulge the details of his Saturday's meeting with Advani, he said that it was "very positive" and the BJP leader expressed pride in the fact that it was the NDA government under the leadership of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee when foundation of such a strategic partnership with the US was laid.
The BJP has rejected the text of the 123-agreement- the operational part of the nuclear deal that was recently agreed by both the countries-, and has demanded voting in the Parliament over the issue.
During his three-day stay in India, Lieberman, who ran unsuccessfully for the Vice Presidential polls in 2000, met many senior Indian officials, political leaders except the Communists.
On Friday, he met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and appreciated the latter's "strength and clarity".
"He (Dr. Singh) is not wavering as he understands the importance of the agreement,' the US Senator told a select group of journalists here.
The Prime Minister's remark in an interview to a Kolkata daily has already made headlines where he said that the nuclear deal was not renegotiable and told the Left parties "to do whatever they want to do."
"If they want to withdraw support, so be it..." Dr. Singh told the daily in an interview.
The US Senator today said that in Washington too there will be a debate and some dissent, but expressed confidence that "it would be ultimately cleared".
"In the end it will be accepted and endorsed by both the countries," Lieberman said and expressed hope that the clearance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will be soon in place and that by the end of this calendar the deal would be sealed.
Apart from the issue of India's right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel, which will witness objection in some quarters in Washington, New Delhi's relation with Tehran will also be scrutinised, according to the US senator.
On being asked what the US would seek from India vis-à-vis its ties with Iran, the Senator said that Washington is not opposed to New Delhi's diplomatic ties with Tehran, but would seek its assistance in stopping Iran from training Iraqis who are causing insurgency in Baghdad.
He also called for India's additional role in Afghanistan by helping in the training of Afghan policemen and pursuing additional reconstruction efforts there.
ANI