Done Deal: India, US seal landmark nuclear pact

TRULY DONE: Mukherjee and Rice inked the 123 Agreement in the US State Department on Saturday.

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Washington: With India's concerns over India-US civil nuclear deal met, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed the bilateral 123 pact - the final document of the Indo-US nuclear deal - to seal the landmark accord.

Mukherjee and Rice inked the "Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy" in the Benjamin Franklin Room of State Department at 01:30 hrs IST on Saturday, with New Delhi insisting that the accord is "legally-binding" on both sides.

This assumes significance since the US had said that the contents of the 123 Agreement were a political commitment and not legally binding, triggering concerns in India over aspects like promises on nuclear fuel assurances.

"Both India and the US Administration have now completed all our internal procedures to be able to sign this path breaking agreement," Mukherjee said after signing the agreement, paving the way for entry of American companies into the Indian nuclear market after three decades.

"Today is an important day for India-US relations, for global energy security and for our common endeavour to promote sustainable development while addressing environmental challenges," he added.

"We now look forward to working with US companies on the commercial steps that will follow to implement this landmark agreement," Mukherjee said.

The External Affairs Minister described the agreement as the first step to India's cooperation with the rest of the world in civil nuclear field.