The answers on the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies are also not new; the US not only does not export such technologies, but has been trying to get the NSG, at earlier meetings, to agree to ban the export of such technologies to all ‘unentitled’ countries, so far with little success as there were objections from Canada, Brazil and South Africa. In the answers to the Congress, the US administration recognizes that India already possesses both enrichment and reprocessing facilities. Stopping export to India of these technologies would therefore be irrelevant.

Finally, on dual use items for ‘sensitive nuclear technologies’, one assumes that the reference is to possible use of dual use items for military purposes. That this would not be forthcoming has been known and has, I understand, not even been sought.

The shocked reaction of much of our electronic media and the immediate shrill cries of ‘betrayal’ and worse by the opposition parties are unlikely to be reflected in the NSG. After all, the NSG participants are aware of US laws and would not have been edified by this blatant piece of provocation. Yet, the discussions in the NSG continue; we would have to wait to see if the interests of major countries such as the US, France, the UK, Russia and even Germany prevail over those of the ideological inclinations of a few. The letter is unlikely to change the basic trends.

The writer is former ambassador of India to the United Nations in Geneva express@expressindia.com