New Delhi, July 29:

Asserting India’s credentials as a responsible nuclear power, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured parliament that the nuclear pact signed during his recent visit to the US doesn’t compromise national security and depends on the US fulfilling its side of the bargain. “The basis of this understanding (on civil nuclear cooperation) was a clear recognition of India as a responsible nuclear power with impeccable record in nuclear non-proliferation,” he said in a statement in the Lok Sabha, the lower house. “Our commitments under the nuclear pact will be dependent on reciprocal fulfilment by the US of its side of the bargain,” he said. He was alluding to fears and anxieties expressed by some political parties, notably the BJP and the Left, about the larger ramifications of the nuclear pact on nuclear security. “There is nothing in the joint statement (issued after his talks with President George W Bush) that inhibits

or hinders our strategic nuclear weapons programme,” he assured the house. “Security interests of our country are our highest priority.” “We expect the same rights and responsibilities as other nuclear powers,” he added.

The nuclear pact signed between India and the US reveres decades-old reservations about granting India access to civil nuclear technology and fuel in return for a set of reciprocal commitments by New Delhi to place its civilian nuclear facilities under international safeguards. The pact also enjoins upon India to continue its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and agree, among other things, to international export control regimes relating to nuclear and missile technology. Stressing the point that the nuclear pact was designed to achieve energy security, he said the chief achievement of his visit was the deal on full civilian cooperation that will enable India to access nuclear energy and reactors from the international

market. Describing his visit to the US July 18-20 as a “success” that took “India’s relations to a new level” in all areas, the prime minister spoke about India-US relations entering a new era marked by an expansion of strategic partnership in crucial areas like space, economic cooperation, science and technology.