Bush beckons India to push nuke deal

US president George Bush has spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss efforts to push the nuclear deal through, amidst countries like Pakistan playing spoilsport.

Two days after the Manmohan Singh government won a vote of confidence in Parliament, one which was seen almost as a referendum on the Indo-US nuclear deal - US President George Bush called him on the phone on Thursday, pledging Washington's support. 

In a statement issued shortly after the brief conversation between Bush and Singh, US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, “The president said he looks forward to continuing to work with his government to strengthen the United States-India strategic relationship. Both leaders expressed their desire to see the US-India civil nuclear issue move forward as expeditiously as possible.”

Bush's call comes a day ahead of a crucial IAEA meet on Friday, where India will brief 144 IAEA members in Vienna on the technical aspects of the draft safeguards text and address concerns of those not convinced like Pakistan, which is now pushing for a nuke deal for itself.

Mehmood Khureshi, Foreign Minister, Pakistan, said, “We feel that an agreement should be such that it should not be discriminatory in nature. Pakistan has energy requirements and Pakistan should have the same."

Pakistan had earlier sent letters to more than 60 countries including members of the IAEA and the NSG, warning them of an arms race in the subcontinent if the deal came through.

Among other critics of the deal are China, Ireland and some Scandinavian countries.