Hoping that the fresh round of talks, which began in Washington on Wednesday between the US and Indian representatives, would conclude the civil nuclear deal between the two countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hinted that the negotiations were in the their ?last leg?.
The Prime Minister, however, refused to specify a time frame for the deal to be clinched, as he said, ?When, I can?t say. But we are about to clinch the deal, as negotiations are in their last leg,? he contended, while speaking to reporters here on Wednesday.
Singh?s comment on the issue has assumed significance as the high-level Indian delegation led by national security adviser M K Narayanan has entered into discussions with US leaders and officials to conclude the 123 agreement, named after Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act.
Several round of talks on the 123 agreement, till date, have failed to yield any result due to differences on issues like fuel reprocessing right for India and future of the deal if New Delhi were to conduct a nuclear test.
These are the major issues on which both the Opposition BJP and supporting Left parties have been building pressure on the government. They contend that the government should not succumb to US pressure. In Washington, US officials said a couple of ?tough issues? were left to be resolved but the deal was within reach.
The Bush administration expressed confidence that both India and the US are going to attempt for ?a push? to finalise the 123-agreement, was also non-committal on the timing.