US House panel cautions against nuclear arms race in South Asia

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Washington, July 24 (IANS) With the India-US nuclear deal coming up for Congressional approval this week, a key panel has asked the Bush administration to ensure that it does not help the Indian nuclear weapons programme in any way or contribute to a nuclear arms race in South Asia.

"Peaceful nuclear cooperation with India can serve multiple US foreign policy and national security objectives," the House of Representatives' Committee on International Relations said in a report commending the enabling legislation.

But it must be approached in a manner that minimizes potential risks to the non-proliferation regime, the panel headed by Republican Henry Hyde said in its report on the draft bill approved by it by an overwhelming 37-5 majority last month.

Giving its rationale for its draft, the panel said one of important considerations was the need to ensure that US cooperation does not assist the Indian nuclear weapons programme, directly or indirectly, in order to avoid contributing to a nuclear arms race in South Asia and because of US obligations under the NPT ...

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