The US, which is engaged in hectic diplomacy with Pakistan, said that it will address the technical issues raised by Islamabad. US ambassador David C Mulford said today, “We will address Pakistan’s role at the IAEA,” and expressed conviction about the Bush administration’s ability to “persuade” Pakistan to cooperate.

In a note circulated amongst the key members of the IAEA Board of Governors, Pakistan, it is learnt, has questioned the urgency to waive the 45-day approval process and the 30-day notice for meeting in the international watchdog on nuclear matters. By raising these arguments, Islamabad is understood to be setting the stage for a vote in the IAEA Board of Governors.

In its note, it has categorically questioned the need for “waiving off” the 45-day period which is usually given to the member-countries on the 35-member IAEA board to study the draft safeguards agreement. In this case, 22 days have been given as the draft was circulated on July 9 and the meeting has been called for August 1. Pakistan has also argued that usually a 30-day notice is given to the IAEA board members which has been over-ruled in India’s case. Technically, IAEA board of governors’ meetings can be called at a 72-hour notice.

Sources said Pakistan has further questioned that, if there is such an urgency, then the draft agreement should mention the nuclear facilities which will be put under safeguards. IAEA secretariat and the chairman of the Board Chile’s Milenko E Skoknic is expected to forward Pakistan’s questions to India for an explanation.

What worries India more that by pushing towards a vote in the IAEA board, members with strong anti-non-proliferation views and domestic laws — who are in both the IAEA and NSG — will be forced to take positions against India’s agreement with the IAEA and it will reduce their “latitude”. This could complicate matters since the NSG decides on “consensus only”, as those countries with strong non-proliferation credentials will have to take a position against India’s interests.

This comes after the Manmohan Singh government has been able to tide over the domestic resistance by winning the trust vote and at least three envoys — Minister of State (External Affairs) Anand Sharma, PM’s special envoy Shyam Saran and Secretary (west) in the MEA Nalin Surie — have already started engagement with IAEA and NSG members.

Sharma, within hours of the trust vote win, was busy meeting IAEA and NSG members in Singapore. Sharma, who has already met leaders from Australia, Canada and Thailand (Thai deputy PM Sahas Banditkul has pledged support), will meet France tomorrow, and then leave for Africa to meet Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia (all in the IAEA Board of Governors) and South Africa (NSG).

Shyam Saran, PM’s special envoy will also go to Australia, to push India’s case. Saran is now in Ireland, another vocal proponent of nuclear non-proliferation, and will go to Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil and New Zealand.

Minister of State (PMO) Prithviraj Chauhan will head for China, and Science and Technology minister Kapil Sibal will also fan out in various other countries.

The remaining seven envoys are top diplomats, including Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Special envoy on West Asia C R Gharekhan and Ministry of External Affairs’ three secretaries - Secretary (west) Nalin Surie, Secretary (east) N Ravi and Secretary (economic relations) Hardeep Puri.