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India has agreed to separate its military and civilian nuclear plants, and also open the latter to international inspections. US administration officials praise the deal for its promise of better ties with a thriving democracy and reduced competition for world oil. The White House, willing to risk losing ground in the worldwide campaign to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, has arranged a deal with India that could help it counter the rising power of China. At the same time though, administration officials understand that an India that is more prosperous, and well armed, represents a hedge against Chinese military ambitions. Such a counter is an important component of U.S. strategy.
However, Pakistan was refused a similar nuclear agreement by President Bush just a few days after. Being one of the key allies of the US for struggling against terrorism, Pakistan has some nuclear image problems in the world after confessing that an entrepreneur for nuclear weapons in Pakistan sold its nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. This agreement between the US and India may provide an outlet to further harm the already shaky relationship between India and Pakistan. Neither India nor its nuclear-armed neighbor Pakistan has signed the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Many experts believe the U.S.-India agreement is likely to convince non-nuclear nations that they can proceed with bomb-building programs in the face of international disapproval, and eventually win back American support anyway.
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