As India and the US started technical talks early this month over formal bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement, the focus has once again shifted on the difficulties both the countries are facing in coming to a consensus. While India and the US are facing severe criticisms over the high-profile agreement, the situation is more complex on the US side. Though this is not surprising in the light of US conceding ‘too’ much and India not loosing ‘anything’, yet the clock is ticking for the passage of the deal in the US Congress.

Wrapping up his three-day India sojourn, US President George W. Bush reiterated that the relationship between India and the United States was 'closer than ever before' and India is a natural ally for the US. Ally or not, after months of intense deliberations and days of hard bargaining, India and the US have inked a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement in New Delhi in early March which allows India to access U.S. nuclear fuel and technology to meet its growing energy requirements.