Nuke Deal: Ball in India’s court, says IAEA

The IAEA said it was close to finalising the text of India-specific safeguards but the ball is now in India’s court.

Amidst mounting pressure by the Left parties on the UPA government not to go ahead with the nuclear deal with US, the IAEA on Tuesday said it was close to finalising the text of India-specific safeguards but the ball is now in India’s court to ready the agreement.

“Both the sides are close to a final text but India has to confirm to the IAEA that there is an agreement on the text,” said IAEA Press and Public information officer Ayhan Evrensel in an email communication.

“Until then, there is in fact no agreement. So, the ball is in India’s court,” he said.

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The ruling Congress-led UPA and Left parties had met on on Monday and decided to hold further discussions next month on the draft India-specific safeguards agreement with IAEA after the briefing on the outcome of the negotiations in Vienna.

A special Board of Governors’ meeting of IAEA is likely to be convened by IAEA Secretary General Mohammed Elbaradei in the second week of May.

The safeguards agreement, alongwith a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, is a prerequisite to operationalise the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.