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International Conference
The Indo-US Nuclear Deal
10-11 March, 2007 Mumbai
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In the last 50 years there was a great hostility and differences between
India and the US especially in the nuclear arena. While today India
becomes a key strategic partner to the US.
They signed a number of accords such as the launching of Indian
satellite licensed by the US, strengthening cooperation to fight AIDS,
40 Indian universities will cooperate with American ones in the areas of
biotechnology, food processing, and marketing, the deal for spreading
democracy……, and others as the topic of our meeting (The Indo-US Nuclear
Deal).
On the surface, this deal is seemed to be a (win-win agreement) for both
of them. As for India, it is known it has a shortage of power sources
and there are restrictions in its access to the nuclear technology as
the result of the sanctions imposed in India after its first nuclear
test in 1974.However, all this will be changed wit this nuclear
agreement, the sanctions will be lifted. India will be able to access to
long-denied civilian nuclear technology, and will be provided with
uranium fuel that would be used to produce as many nuclear weapons as it
wants. Also, US will allow cooperation between India and other nuclear
supplier Group countries. So, India will be recognized as a Nuclear
Weapons State with advanced nuclear technology.
As for the US, this agreement will open new markets in Asia where it can
export its nuclear industry: equipment and technology as well as
technical workers.
In reality, if we study this deal in depth, we will find the U.S. needs
to engage India in its global scheme. It wants to use India as a bulwark
in Asia against some countries that US disagrees and dislikes their
policies such as Iran, Pakistan and China and others. By doing this, the
US will be able to accomplish its ambitious dream for dominating the
world and to be the unipolar system hegemonated the world.
America's global strategy benefits from Indian participation in building
a new world order. This idea is only a part of a geo¬political move
against China, Iran and Pakistan, urging them for arms race and
destabilization in Asia.
Iran for example, is the main actor in the global energy market. It is
the second biggest oil produces in the OPEC, and it has about 1 0
% of
the international oil reserve. It has the world second reserve of
natural gas.
Though 9 /11 event, Iran managed to clear itself of being accused of
participating in such an event, the war on Afghanistan and the removing
of Taliban in Kabul, and the war on Iraq and overthrow of Saddam's
regime in 2003, All of these factors with others resulted in the
emergence of new geo¬-political position in the central Asia.
Accordingly, this gives more space for Iran to extend its power and
develop its nuclear capabilities which is not accepted by the U.S.
Therefore, the US tries to create the image of Iran as an enemy against
the Arab World countries that is more dangerous than Israel so that they
may be pushed to be involved in a conflict with Iran, while the U.S.
will watch and enjoy.
The same is happening now in India which is being used to tell Iran a
message concerning its insistence on having an independent nuclear
development program while the U.S. will share the nuclear (know-how)
technology and fuel with India, .. although it is not a signatory to NPT
like Iran.
Since the visit of the former Iranian President Mohamed Khatami to India
in 2003, the bi-Lateral relation becomes a (strategic partnership) in
energy field. The then Indian Petroleum minister stated that the year
2004-2005 would witness several deals with Iran. Some has already signed
and others are under studying.
The biggest project is this strategic partnership is the project of
natural gas pipelines from Iran to India across Pakistan.
The effects of this project go beyond any expectations for economic
cooperation signed between any two countries because it will enable
India to access to energy resources and paves its way to its
international ascendancy. For India, this pipeline project is crucial
since it can be cross-linked with central Asia and China and with ports
in India and Pakistan. of course, the U.S. is against such partnership
due to its own consideration.
It is no doubt, the US companies are already dominating the oil in the
East Asia. Now after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US is
determining to dominate over oil and gas in Central Asian and Caspian
Region. It is along with Europe rapidly putting infrastructure to pump
oil and gas resources across Europe via the Mediterranean, to monopolize
these resources and marginalize Russia.
Moreover, the US exerted no pressures on India to join the campaign
against Iran's nuclear file. The American Ambassador to India Mr.
Mulford linked the implementation of this Indo-US Agreement with Indian
behaviors towards Iran's nuclear file.
At the end, India voted twice against Iran in the IAEA and agreed to
refer the Iranian nuclear file to the Security Council.
India pursues a double standard policy towards Iran. It tightens the
rope on Iran in its nuclear file and continues its relation with it in a
way that reports mentioned India has been training Iranian troops which
is being denied later on.
lt is evident the India is taking the "parallel line" till now, but with
any military escalation against Iran, India has to choose between the
bigger global partner the US or the regional strategic partner which
guarantees its economic grow and access to central Asia and Afghanistan,
that is Iran.
Both China and Pakistan are against this deal, in a way that can
encourage Pakistan to do the same with China, especially after the US's
refusal to sign a similar deal with Pakistan because of concerns over
Pakistan's record as being accused of helping nuclear proliferation.
That is why after 9/11 America started to look at New Delhi as important
to stop Pakistan from supporting militancy in Kashmir, and during the US
war on Afghanistan, Pakistan which is considered the most competitor to
India in the political and military fields had its international
position been weakened. Now, after the Indo-US Deal, Pakistan fears the
ever-growing gap between it and India.
All this could affect the on going peace initiative between India and
Pakistan and will further boost its military modernization efforts.
The same will happen with China that presents the most significant
threat to both India and the US as it seems an emerging power.
On commentary on this deal, China stated clearly it is against. any
"move towards nuclear proliferation, and nuclear deal between US and
India must conform to follow generally accepted rules with provisions of
international NPT".
Not only China is against this deal but also other nuclear supplier
group such as Germany, Japan, South Africa, ... etc.
China could be tempted to support the nuclear program in Iran and
Pakistan as a counter part.
On the contrary, the US considers China and Russia together pose a
serious challenge, which could be formidable force of India, were to
join them. The US goals are to ensure India does not do this.
Furthermore it seeks to break any normalization between India and China.
Also, this deal will affect badly on the ongoing process of discussion
regarding the denuclearization of Korean Peninsula.
Finally, The Uses India through the selective use of the carrot and
stick to tie India to its geo-political strategy and ambitions. This
deal in fact urges for arms race in Asia rather than nuclear
disarmament.
The US is sucking India into different defense partnership that let
India always depending on the US for all nuclear energy initiatives.
Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO) calls for the
establishment for an Asian and a Middle East free zones of weapons of
mass destructions.
Prepared by : Hamsa Abd
EI-Hamid Genidy
Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization
AAPSO
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