"We want India to be part of our overall non-proliferation efforts, and we want them to really be a major player at the table in trying to figure out how we go forward in an effective, verifiable manner to reinstate a non-proliferation regime that can prevent further countries from acquiring nuclear weapons or even peaceful nuclear capacity without the safeguards that we envision," she said.
The US 'sees India as a full partner' in this effort, and Washington looks forward to working with New Delhi as both the countries are trying to come up with a '21st-century version of the NPT,' Clinton said in response to a question on Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.
"Obviously, we have a lot of confidence in the Indians and a lot of confidence in their approach, and we are going to be working closely with them, including American companies that will be part of implementing the reactor sites that are part of the agreement," the Secretary of State said.
Clinton said that the Indo-US nuclear deal envisages provision of peaceful nuclear energy while ensuring sufficient safeguards. "The Indo-US nuclear agreement is one that reflects the negotiations between the countries. We're not going to claim or use it as a template in its specifics, but in general the kind of efforts to offer peaceful nuclear energy while having safeguards and verification that will prevent others from going beyond the peaceful use of nuclear energy is something that we are looking at very closely," she said.
"The so-called 123 agreements that have been negotiated or are in the midst of being negotiated with other countries raise a lot of the same issues," Clinton said.
"... the goal here is to create a better verification and safeguard regime to look for ways to provide the fuel cycle that doesn't spin into its use for non-peaceful purposes," she said.
The Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement is embedded in a broader strategic dialogue that the US is engaged in with the Indians, Clinton noted. "We view our relationship as one that is comprehensive and very deep in terms of the issues that we wish to explore with our Indian counterparts in the areas where we are either already or look to cooperate," she said.
"I think it is very significant that the first official visit in the Obama administration will be in November, when Prime Minister Singh arrives," Clinton added.
