U.S. may lift sanctions against India: Rubin

U.S. may lift sanctions against India: Rubin

WASHINGTON (Agencies): Indian moves toward signing a global
nuclear test ban treaty have led the United States to consider
lifting some of the sanctions imposed after New Delhi's nuclear
tests in May, the State Department said on Monday.

Spokesman James Rubin told reporters that a U.S. delegation
led by Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had been
encouraged by weekend talks with Indian officials on the nuclear
proliferation issue.

"The dialog was productive and generated new momentum," Rubin
told a news briefing, referring to U.S. efforts to get New Delhi
to sign the 1996 global Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

"There was encouragement on the part of our negotiators...
there are some indications that the Indians are going to move in
a direction that will allow us to respond with moves of our own."

"We have said all along that our sanctions policy will be
adjusted, based on progress in non-proliferation negotiations,"
he said.

"Progress has been made in these most recent negotiations, and
we are consulting with Congress and other members of the
international community, on how to respond to movement in the
right direction."

A decision on the matter would be made "soon," Rubin added.
The U.S. wants India and Pakistan to sign the CTBT, halt further
fissile material production, strengthen export controls and
exercise mutual restraint in missile and weapons development.

Rubin's comments followed reports in India that a senior
member of the U,S, delegation said the sanctions might be eased
"very soon."

"There will be a tangible, visible movement on sanctions very
soon in the context of the anticipation of India taking some very
specific steps on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)," the
official was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

India's nuclear tests in May 1998 triggered similar tests by
Pakistan, earning both countries a raft of international
sanctions spearheaded by the United States. The sanctions were
partially lifted in December.

Separately Talbott said on Tuesday that Washington already has
a commitment from Pakistan to sign the CTBT, a promise Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif gave U.S. President Bill Clinton last
December.

Talbott told reporters that last year's commitment was good
enough for him, but he said there were a host of issues on the
negotiating table.

Among the issues was the development of nuclear weapons,
considered by many to be the next big nuclear hurdle both India
and Pakistan will have to cross. Both countries are believed to
have missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons and capable of
hitting most major cities on the Asian subcontinent.

Pakistan already has warned that it will not be left behind if
India begins to develop nuclear weapons.

Given that India and Pakistan have fought three wars in the
last 51 years, the nuclear tests by the hostile neighbors
generated world fears of another conflagration that could
escalate into a nuclear war.