The India-US nuclear deal faces its first multilateral test tomorrow when the IAEA Board of Governors is expected to approve the India-specific nuclear safeguards pact for the Indo-US nuclear deal to move forward amid indications that Pakistan may not press for a vote.

Pakistan’s attempts to force a vote caused unease both in India and the US but it appeared to back off after the US nudged Islamabad not to block the approval or seek amendments.

IAEA sources said the safeguards text is likely to be approved by consensus but in the highly unlikely event of a vote, Pakistan may well abstain. IAEA decisions are usually taken by consensus except when the Iran’s controversial nuclear programme came up for vote.

Sources said the crucial meeting will see statements delivered by the Indian and US Ambassadors to the IAEA as well as by the nuclear watchdog’s Director General Mohammed ElBaradei.

Pushing for approval of the safeguards text, the US declared yesterday that the pact was a net gain for global non-proliferation. The pact would place India’s declared civilian nuclear energy plants —14 of 22 existing or planned reactors — under regular IAEA surveillance. US Ambassador to the IAEA Gregory L Schulte said the pact was sound.

“Board members have had ample time to study the agreement and ask questions of India and the IAEA inspectorate,” Shulte said. “The agreement is a sound one, based on the IAEA”s approved safeguards system,” he said, adding that “Friday will constitute a major step forward in the wider effort to erase differences” between India and the world.

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