India, US resolve differences on some issues of 123 agreement

NEW DELHI: Making a forward movement, India and the US have resolved differences on some of the contentious issues during the two-day talks on an agreement to operationalise the civil nuclear deal.

"There was progress in the talks," an official said referring to the official-level discussions on the bilateral agreement, called 123 Agreement, held on March 26-27.

"Some of the issues were solved," the official said, without giving details.

Among the contentious issues deliberated upon by the officials of the two countries were fuel supply assurances, reprocessing of spent fuel and future nuclear testing by India.

These differences arose from the Henry Hyde Act which was passed by the US Congress to allow civil nuclear trade with India after 32 years.

Further rounds of discussions will be held in due course of time to firm up the bilateral agreement, the official said. Dates for the next meeting will be decided later.

The two sides are hoping to conclude the agreement by the end of this year.

At the meeting, the two sides understood each other's position and agreed to reconcile their positions.

New Delhi has alleged that the Hyde Act 'significantly deviates' from the understandings of July 18, 2005, and March 2006, which was unacceptable to it.