Linked to this is also the issue of adequately “insulating” the US commitment in the March 2 Separation Plan on guarantee of lifetime supplies of fuel for Indian reactors from the clause in the agreement requiring the right to return of US-origin fuel and material in case India were to test a nuclear device.

On most other issues there is enough agreement though India is likely to hold back progress until US gives a clear commitment on reprocessing. While the US strategy is to go issue-by-issue, India is keen on keeping them interlinked so that there is no question of a halfway house. “We are closer and closer to be on the same page, but then these are all interlinked issues... we are optimistic that we will have an agreement, but I am not setting any deadlines,” said Menon.