India, U.S. open nuke deal talks

WASHINGTON, May 1 (UPI) -- U.S. and Indian officials meeting in Washington, D.C. are trying to work out differences over an historic but slow-paced 2005 civilian nuclear deal.

The talks are led by Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns. Differences over the deal include India's insistence on its right to test atomic weapons and reprocess spent fuel.

Under the deal signed two years ago during U.S. President George W. Bush's India visit, the United States would export civilian nuclear fuel to feed India's growing energy demand in return for India opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection, the BBC reported Tuesday.

In India, a nuclear power, opponents say the deal would adversely impact on the country's nuclear independence. Other critics say the deal would actually help boost India's nuclear arsenal.

A critical issue to be resolved is India's objection to treating its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing as legally binding in the nuclear deal as per Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

India wants equal treatment with other nuclear states for continuation of civilian nuclear cooperation. Section 123 requires the United States to break off any atomic ties in the event of a nuclear test by the other country.