NSG meets today to decide on nuclear waiver to India

The landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal faces a major test at the crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting today that will consider allowing nuclear commerce to India, with Austria and New Zealand still having reservations.      

The Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon did some last minute lobbying last night, meeting representatives of the NSG Troika-- Germany, South Africa and Hungary, key members of the 45-nation nuclear cartel ahead of the two-day plenary meeting, in which objections by even one country can scuttle the pact.     

 India got a shot in the arm yesterday as nearly half the NSG countries reportedly agreed to co-sponsor the US request to grant a waiver to India.      

However, diplomatic sources said Austria and New Zealand were holding up the approval after Ireland reportedly softened its opposition, saying it was aware of the importance attached to the nuclear deal by New Delhi and of the considerable support that exists for its energy diversification.      

On the positive side, countries like France have thrown their weight behind India, strengthening the diplomatic overdrive launched by New Delhi and Washington.      

The Germany-chaired NSG, the governing body for international nuclear commerce, must give unanimous approval to the waiver before the US Congress takes up the pact.      

The international nuclear watchdog IAEA had on August one given a unanimous approval to the India-specific safeguards agreement.      

The deal would reverse more than three decades of US policy barring sale of nuclear fuel and technology to India, which is not a signatory to the NPT.