Even as Indian and U.S. officials try to finalise “administrative arrangements” for the civilian nuclear deal, they have run into opposition from Japan. Sources have told The Hindu that lack of movement in the Indo-Japanese civilian nuclear deal may also stall the India-U.S. deal.
Significantly, while the issue of ‘liability’ has been resolved, according to U.S. and Indian government officials, the major opposition from Japan is over the issue of ‘tracking.’ As a result, even though U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were able to announce a “breakthrough agreement” on January 25 this year, the administrative arrangements are yet to be signed, and nuclear business seems a long way off.
The problems may be addressed on the sidelines of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to Japan next week, while Mr. Modi is expected to use his visits to France and Canada next month to firm up nuclear commerce with those countries as a signal that India’s nuclear energy plans are not bound by the U.S. deal alone.
According to Japanese officials, the deadlock between India and Japan is over two issues.
