"We are a nuclear weapons state. Now, the NPT may not include India as a nuclear weapons state. But, since we are not a NPT signatory, we do not need to care about what the NPT says. The world knows we are a nuclear weapons state.

We are talking civilian nuclear co-operation here. So, this text in no way says anything about our ability and right to test nuclear weapons. It is a purely civilian agreement and what more is necessary to be said?" Kakodkar said.

On the Hyde Act placing some roadblocks:

"The 123 agreement is what should matter. The Hyde Act does not find any mention in the 123 Agreement. The 123 Agreement is an India-US document, whereas the Hyde Act is a US legislation document. So we do not need to bother about what it says," M K Narayanan said.

What happens when India transfers tech to other countries?

"The export of nuclear fuel from other countries is governed by the NSG guidelines. So when we are exporting it to other countries, there is no problem in harmonising our guidelines with the NSG guidelines.

Coming specifically to question of whether we can export, within the framework of the current agreement, we are free to export to whoever may want to buy.

When we export, we will notify the IAEA and insist on country X signing an agreement with IAEA so that the agency can put its safeguards in that country," Kakodkar said.

Image: A file photograph of then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the nuclear explosion test sites at Pokhran in Rajastan on May 20, 1998.
Photograph: Shivraj

Also read: The Bomb and After

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