After four days of concentrated high-level negotiations, as the last push to make the nuclear deal operational, India and US reached an understanding on a common text of 123 Agreement on Saturday. Both the countries finally succeeded to achieved a breakthrough in talks by reaching on a common agreement that would make the deal operational.

Both the countries are reportedly waiting for the completion of necessary political process to announce the deal formally. The whole exercise will have to move away from diplomats and civil servants to the higher political levels.

At the end of four days of intense negotiations, officials from both sides issued a brief joint statement by making it clear that the matter is being referred to the respective governments for the final review of the deal. The officials opted not to give the details of the agreement now.

The joint statement said:

Both the United States and India look forward to the completion of these remaining steps and to the conclusion of this historic Initiative.

The discussions were constructive and positive, and both Under Secretary Burns and Foreign Secretary Menon are pleased with the substantial progress made on the outstanding issues in the 123 agreement. We will now refer the issue to our governments for final review.

India’s Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and US Undersecretary of State Nicolas Burns had held intense talks in last four days to resolve differences on issues such as reprocessing right for India and the fate of the deal if India would conduct a nuclear test in future.

A senior Indian official said:

We have basically finalized the text but the document cannot be divulged. The document cannot be made public, as it has to be approved by the Indian Cabinet.

According to the reports, an announcement about the agreement on the 123 Accord will be announced simultaneously in India and US probably when the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice would visit India in August or September.

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