Brajesh Mishra says deal can be rescued

NEW DELHI: Amid growing concern that bilateral ties could be hit if the Indo-US nuclear deal is abandoned, former National Security Advisor (NSA) Brajesh Mishra has suggested that some of the opponents of the deal should do a rethink if the government addresses their concerns about the fate of India’s nuclear weapons programme.

He told DNA, ``Perhaps one way out is for the government to provide credible guarantees about its devotion to the strategic nuclear weapons programme and the ready supply of fissile material now and in the future for weapons purposes. Given such guarantees, some of the opponents of the deal should think of supporting it.’’

When asked whether he meant the BJP, Mishra said he was speaking as a strategic affairs analyst, not on behalf of any political party. Mishra was former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s NSA and has helped craft the BJP leader’s position on the nuclear deal.

Significantly, Mishra’s take is similar to the position articulated by LK Advani some months ago, when he said that the BJP could think of supporting the nuclear deal if the government assures protection for India’s strategic programme.

Advani was shouted down by his opponents in the party and made to eat his words.
Mishra explained that he had criticised the nuclear deal because it would cap the nuclear weapons programme and make the concept of credible minimum deterrent meaningless.

However, if the deal doesn’t go through it would have an adverse impact on bilateral ties. ``It is a difficult situation. Non-implementation of the deal will put at risk the growing friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Being a votary of closer Indo-US ties, I am concerned that we are about to enter a non-productive period in this important relationship,’’ he said.