India and the US have reaffirmed their commitment to "fully implement" the Indo-US nuclear deal, even as prime minister Manmohan Singh said certain issues are holding up the implementation of the landmark pact.
After their talks at the White House yesterday, Singh and US president Barck Obama said their governments were committed to implementing the deal, which was sealed during the previous Bush administration.
"I reaffirmed to the prime minister my administration's commitment to fully implement the US-India civil nuclear agreement, which will increase American exports and create jobs in both countries," Obama said at a joint press conference with Singh last night.
India and the US signed the landmark civilian deal in 2008 but three outstanding issues are holding up its implementation. Singh said Obama has reaffirmed that his administration was committed to operationalise the deal.
"President has reaffirmed that it is the common resolve of both the governments to operationalise the nuclear deal as early as possible," Singh said at the joint press conference with Obama.
"There are a few 'i's and 't's which have to be crossed. And I have the assurances of the President that it will be completed without further loss of time," the prime minister said.
The outstanding issues are setting up of dedicated reprocessing facility by India under IAEA Safeguards, enactment of Liabilities Legislation by India and assurance on non-proliferation.
With regard to reprocessing facility, the two sides are engaged in negotiations and are trying to conclude them as soon as possible. The Liability Bill has been cleared by the Cabinet and assurances on non-proliferation required by the US Energy Department to give licences under Section 810 to companies for civil nuclear deal with New Delhi.
