Strategic interests not compromised by nuke deal: Army Chief
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 31, IRNA
India-Nuclear-Army
India's security and strategic interests were not compromised by the landmark civilian nuclear accord signed between India and the United States.
The agreement was about mutual co-operation in the civilian nuclear domain and the country's military and security concerns were safeguarded, PTI report said here quoting Army Chief J J Singh.
"Our country's security interests are well taken into
consideration, well addressed and well safeguarded. There will not be any compromise on national security", he told reporters in Mumbai.
India and the US have signed a landmark nuclear cooperation deal on March 2 during US President George W Bush's India visit giving New Delhi an access to US nuclear technology even though some of its reactors would remain off-limits to international inspectors.
The agreement, which has to be ratified by the US Congress, allows India to continue expanding its nuclear weapons arsenal in exchange for permitting international inspections of its civilian reactors.
"The country's leaders have ensured that our peace security needs for energy are safeguarded and we are going to get capability to enhance our energy requirements for the future", Singh said.
Under terms outlined by officials of both government, India can keep eight of its 22 existing reactors under wraps as secret military sites.
Moreover, it can decide whether to open any new weapons-friendly fast-breeder reactors to inspection as civil sites or to classify them as secret military installations, including the huge plant under construction and a second prototype reactor, which Indian officials indicated, would remain closed to monitors.
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