U.S. wants better nuclear ties with India

WASHINGTON, June 24 (UPI) -- Washington is committed to expanding civilian nuclear cooperation with New Delhi under a "clean" exception for India through the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

India was cut out of civilian nuclear technology for more than 30 years because it isn't a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Washington said it was committed to ensuring that nations like India can get access to nuclear energy without a risk of weapons proliferation.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group, which controls international nuclear commerce, is set to approve new guidelines for nuclear material at a plenary meeting in The Hague.

Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, in a statement said Washington was keen to expand nuclear cooperation with India. The U.S. government, she added, supported India's full membership in nuclear export control regimes like the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

"We were pleased that (Indian) Foreign Secretary (Nirupama) Rao led an Indian delegation on an outreach visit to the NSG in the Hague earlier this spring, and were pleased that India's expression of interest in membership has been an active topic of discussion at the plenary this week," she said.