Meanwhile, China seems all set to announce an expansion of civilian nuclear cooperation with Pakistan. From being mere talk in 2005, the idea of China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan has gained ground since President Pervez Musharraf visited China in June this year.

China is currently prohibited from selling additional reactors to Pakistan. But it might hope that the very international debate on making a nuclear exception for India, has opened up the political space for re-establishing nuclear parity between New Delhi and Islamabad.

One can only hope that President Hu is looking at India and the potential nuclear cooperation with it from a broader strategic perspective. On its part, India should move beyond its own current position of not seeking Chinese support in the NSG as well as in the expansion of its own nuclear power programme.