Impact of Bush's India visit
Dated 24/3/2006
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The successful visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to India has brought New Delhi closer to the global non-proliferation order and will assist in removing barriers to high technology, Indian foreign analysts said Friday.
"Bush's visit has changed the global image of India. It has now come much closer to the world non-proliferation order dominated by the Western countries," said senior analyst A.B. Mahapatra.
Mahapatra said in the long run the visit would also help in removing various barriers to high technology, as U.S. allies have also shown interest in doing civilian nuclear business with India.
India, he said, has successfully managed to convince the big powers of the effect of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, but has to work hard to impress the smaller members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
India and the United States signed a landmark civilian nuclear energy deal during President Bush's March visit, following a prolonged series of hard bargaining, under which India has agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear installations.
However, a list submitted to the visiting U.S. delegation announced that out of 22 nuclear facilities, 14 would be placed on the civilian list and opened to international safeguards.
India will keep the eight remaining installations under military control, and will have the freedom to decide whether future reactors are put on the military or civilian lists. Indian scientists, who were initially wary of the deal and expressed their resentment, have now realized that the deal is in the country's interests.
"India's atomic energy scientists have now realized that 14 instead of eight nuclear separation plan is workable and India could well maintain its deterrence capability. Besides, scientists could also carry out new areas of research in critical application of nuclear technology," said Ranjit Kumar, another analyst.
The visit also changed the traditional Indian mindset about the United States, which stated that it never wanted friendly relations with India and was an unreliable partner. The view stemmed from the Cold War, although relations have improved in the interim.
President Bush was impressed with the level of skill, seriousness and honesty, shown by the Indian establishment during the official-level talks on the civilian nuclear energy deal. Officials claim Bush struck up a personal rapport with the Indian prime minister when the two met in Delhi.
"My government is committed to provide the country with energy security," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament after Bush's visit.
The Indian government and citizens appear impressed by the sincerity shown by President Bush in his attempt to push through the nuclear deal in the U.S. Congress. He also won over some U.S. lawmakers who were wary of India's proliferation record.
"Bush would be remembered both in the United States and India as a president who not only improved Indo-U.S. relations, but also helped India change its global image," said Shruti Shukla, a student of international relations at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. It is widely believed by the analysts that President Bush went extra miles to clinch the deal, or it would have taken more time to sign.
The Indian foreign establishment is currently working overtime to win over as many as members of the 45-member elite Nuclear Suppliers' Group as possible. The Bush visit also helped India garner the support of the 'big five' of the NSG.
New Delhi has already signed two civilian nuclear deals with France and Russia. Following the visit of the Australian Premier to India early this month, Canberra has agreed to consider India's request to buy nuclear fuel from Australia provided the U.S. Congress stamps its approval on the deal.
India has changed in its earlier position on NPT and now talks about setting a deadline for signing the NPT provided the deal goes well.
On the other hand, the United States also put its weight behind the deal, and opposition diminishing. Recently Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada have agreed to send delegations to India to get a complete briefing on the deal and work out the means for civilian nuclear cooperation with India.
Opposition to the Indo-U.S. deal has reduced in the Indian domestic front remarkably. The main opposition National Democratic Alliance, led by the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies, who were earlier opposed to the deal, has now changed its position and is supporting the deal.
"The conditions to the deal and its implementation characteristics were main stumbling blocks but that has evaporated with more international support in favor of the agreement and now it has to be carried forward to its logical conclusion," Mahapatra said.
Indian Leftists still continue to oppose the pact, but in a lesser way. The ruling Congress party hopes that Leftist opposition will decrease following the assembly elections in West Bengal. Leftist parties and the BJP have linked the deal with India's vote against Iran at the international nuclear watchdog in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The prime minister, national security advisor and defense minister together briefed the leaders of the major political parties to convince them of the deal and the opportunities therein.
"They (against the deal) should be made to understand that the improvement in Indo-U.S. relations is in the interest of the country both economically and strategically," Mahapatra said.
"Given the positive approach that Mr. Bush himself has adopted towards India, it would be a pity if the opportunities now available for a wider strategic partnership are missed out," said G. Parthasarthy, a senior former Indian diplomat.
In a changed scenario, the United States also shares India's concern vis-
