U.S. Ambassador to India David Mulford on Wednesday called on Indian Prime Minister's Special Envoy on the nuclear deal, Shyam Saran, to discuss the future of the pact between New Delhi and Washington, the Hindu newspaper reported Thursday.
Mulford sought to assess the stance Indian government might take in the light of the demand by the Left parties, whose support is crucial to Singh's coalition government, to hold it in abeyance for six months, the report quoted informed sources.
Mulford has urged New Delhi to take the "last steps" toward operationalizing the deal earlier this week.
The Communist Party of India, however, has warned the federal government not to buckle under U.S. pressure and let parliament debate the deal first.
The sources, according to the Hindu, said Mulford also discussed the steps that should be taken to execute the deal within some months.
The meeting took place ahead of a special session of the 45-nation nuclear suppliers group (NSG), where the United States is likely to explain the implications of its pact with India.
