*As was expected after winning the trust vote the Congress-led UPA government would waste not a single minute to bring the nuclear deal on the track so as to run with full pace, a slew of diplomats has been sent in a jiffy to all the member nation having concerns with the deal around the world.The Prime Minister’s special envoy on nuclear matters, Shyam Saran, is in Ireland, which is considered by India as very difficult to be persuaded.In a landmark step towards emerging out of its nuclear isolation, India scored a major diplomatic victory in Vienna with the IAEA Board of Governors today adopting the India-specific safeguards agreement by consensus.And in doing so, for the first time, the an international body, in this case the UN nuclear watchdog, has acknowledged India’s nuclear weapons programme. For the Indo-US nuclear deal, the bigger hurdle is up next — the Nuclear Suppliers Group which is likely to meet here on August 21.
With IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei making a strong case for the India-specific safeguards agreement and Pakistan deciding against pressing for a vote, the coast was clear for New Delhi. Moreover, there was full endorsement from countries like UK, France, Finland, Russia, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Algeria and Chile. Other countries like Ghana, Ecuador, Thailand, Morocco and Bolivia also supported the deal.
The nuclear deal now moves on to the 45-member NSG, which is going to be a major diplomatic challenge for both New Delhi and Washington. Going by some serious doubts raised by NSG countries in the IAEA Board today, the next three weeks will require an even stronger diplomatic push from both countries. Apart from China, which did not quite show a distinct change of heart today, countries like Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and Norway voiced serious concerns over the impact this would have on the NPT regime. 
Ireland went to extent of saying that if the safeguards agreement had been put to vote today, it would have abstained. However, South Korea, an NSG member spoke with special permission and supported inclusion of India into the nuclear mainstream.
Ireland went to extent of saying that if the safeguards agreement had been put to vote today, it would have abstained. However, South Korea, an NSG member spoke with special permission and supported inclusion of India into the nuclear mainstream.
** What ails the India-US N-deal?
The clear demarcation of Indian nuclear reactors as either civilian or military threatens the nuclear deal signed between India and the US last July. Under that agreement, signed by US President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the US would try and recognise India as a civilian nuclear power, and thus allow it nuclear technology and fuel denied under the sanctions which followed India's first nuclear test on May 18, 1974. This is subject to the United States Congress allowing the necessary changes in US law.
The clear demarcation of Indian nuclear reactors as either civilian or military threatens the nuclear deal signed between India and the US last July. Under that agreement, signed by US President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the US would try and recognise India as a civilian nuclear power, and thus allow it nuclear technology and fuel denied under the sanctions which followed India's first nuclear test on May 18, 1974. This is subject to the United States Congress allowing the necessary changes in US law.
Indo-US nuclear tango
In return, India, would have to: i. identify and separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities and programmes; ii. declare its civilian facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); iii.voluntarily place civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards; iv. sign an Additional Protocol for civilian facilities; v. continue its unilateral nuclear test moratorium; vi. work with the United States to conclude a Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty (FMCT); vii. refrain from transferring enrichment and reprocessing technologies to states that do not have them, as well as support international efforts to limit their spread; viii. secure its nuclear materials and technology through comprehensive export control legislation and through harmonisation and adherence to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and NSG guidelines.
In return, India, would have to: i. identify and separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities and programmes; ii. declare its civilian facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); iii.voluntarily place civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards; iv. sign an Additional Protocol for civilian facilities; v. continue its unilateral nuclear test moratorium; vi. work with the United States to conclude a Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty (FMCT); vii. refrain from transferring enrichment and reprocessing technologies to states that do not have them, as well as support international efforts to limit their spread; viii. secure its nuclear materials and technology through comprehensive export control legislation and through harmonisation and adherence to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and NSG guidelines.
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