New Delhi: The details of the Indo US Nuclear Deal were made public on Friday.
The agreement, which took two years to complete, spells out how a plan for the US to share nuclear technology with India will work, including thorny issues such as reprocessing rights and the creation of a fuel reserve for India.
According to the information from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Nuclear Agreement signed between India and United States will be valid for a period of 40-years which could subsequently be extended for 10-year periods.
Much to the delight of Indian diplomats, India's military nuclear facilities will not be bound by this deal. The operating agreement goes one step further, allowing India to reprocess spent fuel under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The text however makes no mention of nuclear testing on the 123 agreement. The agreement says, in case India conducts a nuclear test in response to a test by Pakistan or China, the United States will take into account the changed security environment.
United States will also help India develop a strategic fuel reserve, and would give special priority to fuel supplies in order to ensure uninterrupted operations of Indian reactors, MEA sources told CNN-IBN.
The US has also promised help in getting India a clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and negotiate permanent safeguards with IAEA.
The deal could open up 100 billion dollars-worth of opportunities for US businesses, according to the US Chamber of Commerce.
The pact outlines the safeguards India will have to put into place for the reactors that will benefit from the technology. It also addresses Pakistan's concerns, ruling out the use of any transferred nuclear material for nuclear explosive devices or for other military purposes.
The whole accord has to win the approval of the US Congress and the Indian Parliament. India first has to negotiate a safeguards agreement with the IAEA and gain the support of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.
