[ketelone]

Goes without saying. Im quite sure everyone in the administration already knew this for a fact. Its unrealistic to imagine that India would shut down its weapons program just for a civilian nuclear energy deal. India developed its nuclear weapons in accordance with international law (didnt sign CTBT, NPT). The US didnt sign the CTBT either, if I recall correctly.

The writer of this article appears to be of a hippy liberal bent of mind:

"That's important to many in India who consider rival Pakistan, which also has nuclear weapons, a serious threat despite a two-year peace process. The longtime rivals have fought three wars since the bloody partition of the subcontinent at independence from Britain in 1947."

- After three wars, and an ongoing muslim insurgency in Kashmir, I think 2 years of peace processes are largely regarded as insignificant.

I might add, that Indias first nuclear test in 1974 occurred as a direct reaction to the first Chinese test, and had little or nothing to do with Pakistan.

[CarrotAndStick]

India wouldn't be suicidal to dismantle its nuclear weapons, especially when China has several missiles pointed at Indian cities.