Canada agrees to help India on nukes

The two countries also agreed to ‘‘pursue further opportunities for the development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,’’ diplomatic phrasing that a Canadian official said could lead eventually to the resumption of the supply of Canadian nuclear reactors to India.

‘‘We have to acknowledge the substantial progress that has been made in India,’’ Pettigrew told a news conference. He was referring to several steps taken by New Delhi, including a moratorium on nuclear testing and a commitment to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs.

India exploded its first nuclear device in 1974, using plutonium from a research reactor that Canada had given it. Canada cut off nuclear cooperation after that test, and extended its sanctions after India and Pakistan carried out competing nuclear tests in 1998.

A senior Canadian official said Canada was acting in lock-step with the United States, France and Britain, in rewarding India for safeguards it was putting in place, even if it had not agreed to get rid of its nuclear weapons abilities.

— REUTERS