India, U.S.: Regional Fallout from the Nuclear Deal

The U.S. Congress approved the U.S.-Indian civilian nuclear deal late Oct. 1. While some sticking points remain, U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are expected to grant the deal final approval as early as the week of Oct. 5. Geopolitically, this deal brings India into a strategic partnership with the United States — a major irritant to the Chinese and the Russians. For the Pakistanis, this deal gives New Delhi a long-term strategic advantage over Islamabad, marking an inflection point in Pakistan's already deteriorating relationship with Washington.