Dharam Shourie

New York, Sep 25 (PTI) Expressing confidence that the Indo-US nuclear deal would be cleared by the American senate, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said the international community is prepared to cooperate with New Delhi in civilian nuclear programme as India has behaved very responsibly in this regard.

"There has been not a single case of outward proliferation though India was the first Asian nation to build indigenous atomic reactor and establish full fuel cycle," Mukherjee said while addressing leaders of the Indian-American community here yesterday.

"The international community is prepared to cooperate with New Delhi in the civil nuclear programme because India has behaved very responsibly," he said.

The Defence Minister expressed confidence that the Indo-US civilian deal would go through but pointed out that the relations between the two countries are not dependent on one issue and are spread across a spectrum of several areas.

India has used the sensitive technologies with great care and caution and it was in recognition of that the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement was signed, he said.

He expressed hope that legislative and other procedures would be completed soon so that implementation process begins.

Mukherjee said the nuclear agreement would not affect the country's strategic programmes, including research and development, in the nuclear field.