Click to play videoNew Delhi: The IAEA is briefing its 144 members on the technical aspects of the Indian draft safeguards agreement. This is an internal IAEA meeting which is crucial from the Indian point of view as this would be instrumental in clearing any doubts among the members and set the Indo-US nuclear deal process rolling.
Pakistan for instance had raised objections to the safeguards text but later but later Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Mehmood Khureshi said "We feel that an agreement should be such that it should not be discriminatory in nature. Pakistan has energy requirements and Pakistan should have the same."
Earlier, President Bush told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the US would bring Islamabad on board and supported India's plans to fast track the nuclear deal.
In a statement US National Security Council spokesman, Gordon Johndroe said, "The president said he looks forward to continuing to work with his government to strengthen the United States-India strategic relationship. Both leaders expressed their desire to see the US-India civil nuclear issue move forward as expeditiously as possible"
India is hopeful that today's meeting will ensure a smooth passage for the safeguards text when the board of governors convenes on August 1.
In the meantime, South Block is leaving no stone unturned and is dispatching its envoys to world capitals to muster support for the deal.
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