Symbolising the growing bilateral ties, Britain has decided to ease sanctions against India relating to civilian nuclear energy ahead of Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to New Delhi.
"The government notified Parliament on Wednesday about the significant changes in its laws regarding the export of dual-use nuclear technologies to India," a foreign office spokesman said on Thursday.
The British decision comes close on the heels of the Indo-US nuclear deal paving the way for supply of nuclear fuel to Tarapore and other reactors, ending the three-decade-old freeze.
Under the relaxed rules, applications for items under the dual-use list of the nuclear suppliers group will now be allowed to India, and Pakistan, on a 'case-by-case basis' and only when their end-use will be in an IAEA-safeguarded civilian nuclear facility. Applications for other licensable items, even those under weapons of mass destruction end-use controls, will also be opened on a case-by-case basis.
"We will again open the doors to Indian nuclear scientists and research organisations, academics and nuclear industry officials to come to the United Kingdom," the spokesman added.