WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Many major U.S. businesses are lobbying the United States Senate to approve the Bush administration's nuclear pact with India.
The companies are arguing that approving the nuclear deal would lead to major business opportunities for both U.S. and Indian companies.
Dawn reported on Sept. 16 that the United States-India Business Council and the Coalition for Partnership are sending a joint letter to all 100 United States senators, lobbying them not to forgo the opportunity to "strengthen the growing partnership between the world's oldest and the world's largest democracies."
Private concerns see an economic bonanza in the nuclear deal, which could also help open the door for U.S. access to some of India's $15 billion upgrading of its armed forces. The Russian Federation is currently the largest supplier of Indian arms imports.
The Senate letter contains the signatures of five leading business associations, 28 companies, nine Indian-American organizations and 22 foreign-policy experts.
The lobbyists have also lined up former government officials to support their effort. Former Defense secretary William S. Cohen and three former ambassadors to India -- Frank G. Wisner, Thomas R. Pickering and Richard Celeste -- have endorsed the letter.
