NSG clearance not imminent: Bildt- Hindustan Times

NSG clearance not imminent: Bildt- Hindustan Times

Indo-US nuclear agreement is proving to have become headache for both countries. It appears that it was a part of India's calculations that an agreement with the US would immediately open the door for the Nuclear Supplier Group's (NSG) prefrential treatment towards India. Once again, it seems like the case of a diplomatic blunder by Indian government. Dr. Manmohan Singh's UPA government should recognize that NSG might be dragging its feet waiting for finalization of the Indo-US nuclear agreement or perhaps, the Bush Administration has asked the NSG to slow down so that India can be further pressurized to cave in to tough negotiation by the US. As the time passes, it is increasingly becoming clear that India will have to significantly restrict its nuclear program if it wants to seal the deal with the US and to get free pass from the NSG. NSG memebers might be playing good cop bad cop game with India. Alas, Dr. Manmohan Singh was a politican not a banker.