While the top services brass is still reading the fine print of the Henry J Hyde US-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act, internal discussions within the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Defence Ministry support the deal as they are convinced that India’s nuclear capability will not take a hit.

The military establishment believes that it is up to India’s political establishment to accept or reject the Henry Hyde Act as the US Congress and not Parliament has passed it.

After discussing the US legislation at the highest levels, the tri-service top brass expects Washington to take care of Indian concerns over the legislation in the bilateral 123 Agreement. The assessment of the military establishment is that Bush administration is as keen as the Manmohan Singh government on civilian nuclear trade and that the deal is a milestone in the already expanding Indo-US cooperation in high technology areas including defence.

In the internal discussion, the top brass argued that even at the height of Cold War, Russians were never allowed to set foot into any Indian defence establishment. So it is up to the government to decide the level of engagement with the Americans in the nuclear field. The military’s view, which is contrary to the Indian nuclear establishment, is understood to have been conveyed to the UPA government.

The support of the top brass for Indo-US engagement is factored in the evolving complex security scenario in Asia with even Russia intent on supplying fighter aircraft engines to Pakistan and China. It sees the nuclear deal as part of the building engagement with the US in areas of defence cooperation.

The legislation comes at a time when New Delhi has decided to purchase six C-130 J tactical airlift airplanes for its special forces from the US. With Finance Minister P.Chidambaram giving a green signal, the contract will be signed before December 31, 2006.

Equipped with area weapons and air surveillance capabilities, the famed short take-off and stretched Hercules aircraft will be brought under the Indian Special Forces, which have expanded to 10 battalions (10,000 men) from mere three battalions in the past three years. The Special Forces are being modelled on the US special operations concept to take care off future battle-fields within and outside India.

The top brass feels that the deepening Indo-US defence engagement is a manifestation of Washington’s recognition of India’s growing status and the growing trust after the July 18, 2005 nuclear agreement.

Bush to talk about India’s democracy

When US President George W Bush signs the Henry J Hyde

US -India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act on Monday, he is expected to reiterate the American commitment to honour the July 18, 2005 and March 2, 2006 agreements. Although US President normally does not make statements after signing of any legislation, the key interlocutors on both sides have suggested that White House signal why the US law has been changed only for India.

Top government sources confirm that President Bush will briefly delve on Indian democracy and its impeccable record of non-proliferation to push New Delhi’s case for a one-time US legislation. While Bush is not expected to specifically address concerns over nuclear deal in the Indian polity, he will pitch the two agreements as the heart of the civilian nuclear trade agreement between two natural allies.