By KUNA
New Delhi : Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday stressed that the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal would not ban a nuclear test by New Delhi whenever there was a need in the future. “In the 123 Indo-US nuclear agreement, testing is not banned. If the geopolitical situation arises, we will go for it,” Mukherjee said in his reply to the debate on the nuclear deal in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament). “The government of the day will have to determine what is the threat perception and act accordingly,” he said.
“We do not want to be a major nuclear weapon power, but we want credible minimum deterrence for security purposes,” Mukherjee said. The nuclear deal would give the country the much-needed energy security without sacrificing its indigenous programme or its strategic deterrence. The Indian Opposition parties have argued that the deal would adversely impact the countrys independent foreign policy.