N-deal: India, US Set to Make Progress During Pranab's Visit

The Hindu
Mar 21, 2008

Washington (PTI): India and the United States should utilise the upcoming maiden visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to effect a "breakthrough" in the civil nuclear deal, that has hit a stalemate in both the countries, to further cement their ties, South Asia scholars here say. "The civilian nuclear deal should now be the most important thing they discuss so that they are able to assure themselves that progress can be made because the deal right now hangs in the balance," India specialist Harold Gould of the University of Virginia told PTI. During his two-day visit from Sunday, first in his capacity as the External Affairs Minister, Mukherjee will hold talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other cabinet and administration officials including those of the National Security Council. "Somebody has to break through with an initiative that moves this nuclear deal back on to a positive track. The nuclear deal has to get off the dime now," Gould said.