While India and US went into a diplomatic overdrive 48 hours ahead of the crucial NSG meeting to consider an exemption for India from its guidelines, the opposition within the grouping has crystallised its demands around three basic issues: provision for periodic review, conditions on future testing and transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies.

It’s learnt that there are “strong undercurrents” within the 45-member grouping to address this in the form of extra conditions to the draft exemption note circulated by the US. While no formal move has been made, top sources indicated that attempts will be made when the group meets on Thursday.

On the positive side, France has put its weight behind India and issued demarches to all members asking them to allow the exemption for India to pass by consensus. Top Indian diplomats PM’s Special Envoy Shyam Saran and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, along with DAE officials, are expected to be in Vienna tomorrow.

They will meet the NSG troika Germany, South Africa and Hungary ahead of the special NSG meet, said sources.

Given the informal nature of the grouping, much of the conversation is still unofficial although clear signals are being sent by countries with a strong non-proliferation agenda that the draft needs to be further “tightened”. This, however, would run the risk of tampering with a draft currently acceptable to India and any addition could prompt a fresh review in New Delhi.

The three areas that strong NPT proponents want adequately addressed are:

• An elaborate provision for a periodic review that India is abiding by all its commitments made under the exemption. India has resisted such reviews as it makes the waiver look conditional and open to periodic reconsideration.

... contd.