Issues unresolved on US-India nuclear deal

[AFP, 17 March; Reuters, 18 March] The Indian government said that it would hold further talks in April with its communist allies after talks on 17 March failed to break a deadlock over the nuclear energy agreement with the USA. The talks in April will focus on India-specific safeguards with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which are essential to concluding a deal with the USA. Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said that government representatives had presented the outcome of the talks with the IAEA to its communist allies. He said that both sides "felt further discussion was needed." Debabrata Biswas, a communist leader who attended the meeting, said, "We have sought some clarifications and we will meet again next month." The USA is pressing India to move forward with the agreement before the presidential elections in November. However, the Indian government's communist allies are opposed to the deal as they claim it will give the USA influence over Indian foreign policy, and had threatened to withdraw their support from the coalition government if it were to proceed.