N-deal a new dimension in ties with India: US

The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal has opened up new pathways for partnership between the two countries on non-proliferation issues globally, the White House said on Tuesday.

"Civil nuclear cooperation with India has opened new pathways for a strengthened US-India partnership on nonproliferation issues globally," National Security Council spokesman Benjamin Chang said.

"We look forward to continuing to pursue our commonly held energy security, nonproliferation, and strategic objectives as we join with India to provide strong and dynamic leadership in the international community," Benjamin said, after US President Barack Obama transmitted to the US Congress his first report on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

"The report covers the period of October 4, 2008, to June 30, 2009. It provides an update on US-India civil nuclear cooperation and developments that relate to India's nuclear-related activities," Obama wrote to chairman and ranking members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

However, the content of the report was not made public, as Obama wrote to them: "Classified information associated with these issues has been provided in a separate classified annex."

The report also includes updates on joint efforts by India and the US to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

This is the first report issued by Obama since the entry into force of the 123 Agreement in December last year.

The report is being offered pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Henry J Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006 and the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act of 2008, the latter being the approval legislation for the 123 Agreement.