The US asked India not to talk about ‘unconditional’ waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as it was ‘provocative’ ahead of the meeting of the 45-nation grouping.In a telephonic press conference from the US, US Ambassador to India David Mulford said usage of the term ‘unconditional’ was ‘over simplification’ of issues considering that the issue related to the NSG.He noted that the US was seeking ‘clean exemption’ from the NSG and was not using the word ‘unconditional’ because there are ‘many moving parts’ in the process, including the Separation Plan, 123 agreement and India-IAEA Safeguards Agreement."It is somewhat a provocative word to be used," Mulford said while specifying that it was his ‘personal view’ as it could create difficulties in the process."We are hoping for, I use the word, clean exemption. We hope NSG will recognise and accept the moving pieces - the (123) agreement, change of (US) law and so on and gives approval to this," the Ambassador said.Mulford noted that member countries of the NSG would have different points of view but he expected the grouping to give a ‘clean’ waiver to India.The Ambassador sought to discount the possibility of NSG putting the condition that India sign the NPT, saying the US has ‘understood’ that New Delhi will not sign the pact and their bilateral negotiations on the nuclear deal have proceeded on that assumption so far.Mulford said the US was working very closely with India in garnering support at the NSG, with President George W Bush himself involved in the process.Top officials of the US are engaged in conversations with NSG member-countries in an attempt to ensure a consensus on the issue during the meeting on August 21-22. "The US is raising this question with all the NSG countries," the Ambassador said.The US is also working out proper language for the draft to be circulated among NSG countries soon, he said.
