India- US Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (123 Agreement)

We have to talk about the politics about the opposition to the agreement. Both the Left Front and the NDA have been vociferously against the agreement for a long time. But let us analyze the agreement and see where the people who oppose it stand.

But before starting this discussion, let us have a look at the text of the 123 Agreement which is the India- US Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

Check the agreement yourselves at the following links

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/90157 .pdf

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/aug/90050.h tm

It is a long agreement, but a careful study of the agreement would give you some insights.I am just taking some excerpts to point out a few things.

“AFFIRMING that cooperation under this Agreement is between two States possessing advanced nuclear technology, both Parties having the same benefits and advantages, both committed to preventing WMD proliferation;”

This is a major step in terms of India’s nuclear capabilities. With just this one sentence, the US is affirming that India is a nuclear sate with advanced technology. Well, maybe everybody knows that, but this is a huge since America is formally acknowledging about India’s capabilities.

“This Agreement shall be implemented in a manner so as not to hinder or otherwise interfere with any other activities involving the use of nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment, components, information or technology and military nuclear facilities produced, acquired or developed by them independent of this Agreement for their own purposes.”
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