U.S.-India nuclear deal in trouble

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The Indian-U.S. civilian nuclear deal may not survive due to political opposition but analysts say it has helped put relations on a firmer footing.

India’s leftist allies in the coalition government may succeed in scuttling the deal, but officials in both countries are trying to prevent it, the Christian Science Monitor reported Wednesday. There is also opposition in the U.S. Congress.

If the deal dies, it would come at a time when the stability in the South Asian region has become a concern because of rising Islamic fundamentalist violence and political turmoil in Pakistan.

But analysts told the Monitor the improved Indian-U.S. ties resulting from five years of intense negotiations over the nuclear deal are likely to get better.

“India is a key and growing player on every issue that matters to Americans in the 21st century – whether it's terrorism or nuclear proliferation, spreading democracy, HIV/AIDS, climate change, or energy. So the logic behind improving U.S.-Indian relations is compelling no matter who is in power in Washington,” former CIA analyst Bruce Riedel said.

Others said putting the deal aside for now would help the two countries work on other bilateral issues such as trade and other forms of energy cooperation, the Monitor reported.