It may be noted that William Burns has replaced Nicholas Burns, who was the chief interlocutor on the nuclear deal until recently. The NSG will present a tougher diplomatic challenge than the IAEA Board as the grouping takes its decisions only by consensus. A handful of countries like Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and Norway have expressed their concerns over the “harm” the special arrangement for India may do to the NPT regime.

Overcoming this opposition would have been less difficult if India and US had time on their side, but it is almost imperative for the NSG to give an exemption at this meeting itself. Washington is targeting to bring the 123 agreement along with the Safeguards Agreement and the NSG exemption to the US Congress by September 8.

Thereafter, another concentrated effort will be needed to get the Congressional approval before the term of the Bush Administration expires. The up-and-down vote by the Congress has to be preceded by an approval of the House International Relations Committee (HIRC) and the Senate Foreign relations Committee.

Matters have been complicated with HIRC chairman Howard Berman already giving his objections in writing to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Berman, it may be recalled, had voted against the Hyde Act too.