The United States and India have made 'some progress' on resolving a number of issues over the civil nuclear deal but the whole process will take 'a little bit of time', a senior Bush administration official has said.
"I know that there have been ongoing discussions on some of the specific items that need to be arranged. Certainly there is no final agreement that's been reached, though I do believe they've made some progress on resolving a number of issues there. And this is something that I believe is going to take a little bit of time to work out," State Department spokesman Tom Casey said on Wednesday.
"These are complex arrangements and it's important that we produce ultimately an agreement that conforms with US law and allows us to move forward with the confidence that both sides need," he added.
The spokesman was asked to comment on India insisting on 'some' conditions that are at odds with the American position and law and if any progress has been made on this score.
India has alleged that the Henry Hyde Act, passed by the US Congress in December last year to allow civil nuclear trade with India, 'significantly deviates' from the understanding of July 18, 2005, and March 2006.
"... this is something that people are actively discussing and negotiating now. I'd leave it to the folks out there in Delhi that are doing that to describe exactly where the process stands," the spokesman said.
Officials of the two countries held day-long talks in New Delhi on March 26 to iron out differences over various elements in the so-called 123 Agreement, including fuel supply assurances, reprocessing of spent fuel and future nuclear testing by India.