India-US nuclear deal signed, sealed

11/10/2008 13:24:23

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee have signed an agreement to open up sales of civilian nuclear technology to India for the first time in three decades.

Their signatures cap a three-year political rollercoaster for an agreement that lifts a ban on US-Indian civilian nuclear trade imposed after India's first nuclear test in 1974.

The deal offers India access to US technology and cheap atomic energy in return for allowing UN inspections of some of its civilian nuclear facilities - but not military nuclear sites.

Condoleeza Rice has called the accord "a recognition of India's emergence on the global stage".

"Many thought this day would never come, but doubts have been silenced now," she said.

"The agreement we are about to sign is unprecedented and it demonstrates the vast potential partnership between India and the United States, potential that, frankly, has gone unfulfilled for too many decades of mistrust and now potential that can be fully realised."

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