India is hopeful that most outstanding issues in its nuclear pact with the United States will be wrapped up by the time President George W. Bush visits the country in early March, a news channel reported Saturday, according to DPA. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush had reached an understanding in July 2004 that the U.S. would supply fuel for Indian nuclear reactors, while India would place facilities associated with its civilian nuclear energy programme under international inspection. India's foreign secretary Shyam Saran, who held talks with U.S. officials in Washington earlier this week, is expected to return with draft legislation to be presented by the Bush government for approval by Congress. "If both sides are reasonably satisfied with this as also certain changes and guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, it is possible to move forward," India's national security advisor M.K. Narayanan said in an interview to NDTV news channel. "I don't think it (presentation of legislation to Congress) will happen before Bush comes to India. But by the time he comes, which hopefully will be in early March, most of the issues will be sorted out," Narayanan said. Narayanan clarified that India's commitment to put nuclear facilities under international inspection would not compromise its strategic programme. The U.S. had imposed curbs on the transfer of nuclear technology to India after the latter tested nuclear devices in 1998.
