The United States and India say they have completed negotiations on a nuclear cooperation deal.
But neither country gave details of the long-delayed, controversial accord and acknowledged critical steps must be taken before it can be implemented.
The pact, approved by India's cabinet on Wednesday, would allow India access to US nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years, even though New Delhi refused to join non-proliferation pacts and tested nuclear weapons.
"The conclusion of negotiations on this agreement marks a major step forward in fulfilling the promise of full civil nuclear cooperation as envisioned by President (George W.) Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," said the statement, issued by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian Foreign Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee.
"Civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and India will offer enormous strategic and economic benefits to both countries, including enhanced energy security, a more environmentally friendly energy source, greater economic opportunities, and more robust nonproliferation efforts," they said.
But before cooperation can begin, India must negotiate an inspection regime for its nuclear facilities with the International Atomic Energy Agency and win approval from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Also, the US Congress must approve it. Many lawmakers and nonproliferation experts are concerned about what they believe are US concessions to the Indian nuclear establishment.
In addition, the Bush administration's willingness to allow India to reprocess US origin nuclear fuel as part of the deal raises a question of inconsistency in its dealings with Iran.
Unlike India, Iran is a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, yet the United States has led an international effort to force Tehran to abandon its enrichment programme.
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