On timeframe for concluding negotiations on nuclear pact, On timeframe for concluding negotiations on nuclear pact, Khurshid said the sense of urgency and committment between the two countries on the issue was "very clear". "When we speak on a matter of such high import, to actually put an artificial deadline and say we must complete it within this period would not be appropriate. Obviously, a sense of urgency and purpose would be there and hopefully we would move quite swiftly," he said. "I think these are very important negotiations. Of course, we have done negotiations with other countries successfully on this. So, there is a backdrop available and there are models available," he said. Khurshid underscored the significant contributions made by Australia in nuclear energy sector and non-proliferation. Australia had agreed to start negotiations on a civil nuclear deal with India during the October visit of Prime Minister Julia Gillard to New Delhi. In December 2011, Gillard's Labour Party had overturned its long-standing ban on exporting uranium to India. The country did not sell uranium to India because it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. PTI SKU PAL
