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ivalry between the intensely competitive nations,and potentially raise tensions in the already dangerousregion. Other experts say the two countries, bothadmittedly now nuclear, could be forced to deal morecautiously with each other.What’s the history of India’s nuclear program?In the 1950s, the United States helped India developnuclear energy under the Atoms for Peace program.The United States built a nuclear reactor for India,provided nuclear fuel for a time, and allowed Indianscientists study at U.S. nuclear laboratories. In 1968,India refused to sign the NPT, claiming it was biased.In May 18, 1974, India tested its first nuclear bomb,showing it could develop nuclear weapons withtechnology transferred for peaceful purposes. Onmay 11, 1998, three tests was were conducted byIndia, which included a fusion device (of 12 kilotons),a low yield device (of 0.2 kiloton capacity), and athermonuclear device (of 0.2 kiloton capacity). Asa result of 1974 nuclear testing by India,, the UnitedStates isolated India for twenty-five years, refusingnuclear cooperation and trying to convince othercountries to do the same. But since 2000, the UnitedStates has moved to build a “strategic partnership”with India, increasing cooperation in fields includingspaceflightspace flight, satellite technology, andmissile defense.UpshotThe deal is controversial in India, with manyparliamentarians arguing it will limit India’ssovereignty and hurt its security. Some Indian nuclearexperts are protesting what they see as excessiveU.S. participation in deciding which of India’s nuclearfacilities to define as civilian, and open to internationalinspections under the plan.The percentage of power provided by nuclearreactors is only 3% and it is the costliest source toproduce. At the same time there is no technologystill in the world to deal with the nuclear wastes thatcan be harmful for 1000 years. And France is alreadysuffering from this. The US stands to gain contractsworth of at least US$100 billion in the deal.The benefits that India is going to reap are almostcompo mentis but the question is what will the US isgoing to have be getting in return and why are theyso interested in having the deal with India. The motivebehind it could be, India and China’s has shown aprodigious growth and US’s is having confrontationwith Iraq, Iran and turbulent Pakistan. So the US issearching for a new loyal strategic partner andAmerica knows that it is much better to maintain agood relationships with India than with China orPakistan for the moment.However, loyalty is an unknown term for the US.As long as the US needs or requires something, itmaintains a happy-go-relation with its partner, butwhen its needs are fulfilled the US simply dumps hisits loyal partner as spent force.[The author is a columnist and researcher.]SECRETARY GENERAL ANSWERS YOUThe Secretary General of NFIFWI will answer questions raised by youregarding organizational matters.You can e-mail your questions to :nfifwisecgen@gmail.com or editornf@gmail.comfor clarification over telephone please call preferablybetween 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm8