By IANS
New Delhi : Ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit here later this month, India Tuesday briefed Japan on the India-US civil nuclear pact and sought its support in the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan met Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo and informed him about the details of the 123 agreement with the US that was unveiled last week.
Aso indicated that Japan had yet to make up its mind on the issue and would wait for India to conclude a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before committing itself, well-placed sources said.
Narayanan also called on the Japanese prime minister and discussed with him his forthcoming visit to India that starts Aug 21.
Japan is an influential member of the NSG and its support would go a long way in winning over those countries in the NSG, which like Tokyo have special sensitivities about the nuclear issue.
As Japan is the only country in the world to have been attacked by nuclear weapons, the nuclear issue has special resonance in that country and explains Tokyo’s cautious approach to the India-US civil nuclear deal.