India, U.S. nuclear deal makes progress

WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- The United States and India reportedly have made progress in resolving differences over the civilian nuclear deal reached last year.

Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, who led India's team for the talks in Washington, said, "Both sides want to get this done. We are both keen to do it quickly," The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Menon said he expects the deal to be wrapped up this month after Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns visits India, The Post reported.

The agreement, signed when U.S. President George W. Bush visited India, calls for the United States to export civilian nuclear fuel to feed India's growing energy demand in return for India opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection.

But the agreement bogged down over differences between the two countries, including India's insistence on its right to test atomic weapons and reprocess spent fuel.

In India, a nuclear power, opponents also 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.

In the United States, there are also new concerns about reports of a closer Iran-India military relationship, but Menon shrugged off the issue, The Post said.