Canberra: India and Australia said Monday the issue of India sourcing uranium from Australia would come up only after international arrangements for nuclear commerce were in place. Under the circumstances, India could not have come up with a better solution, given the fact that it faces a Labour government which is committed to adopting a puritanical stance on nuclear proliferation related issues.

For the record, visiting Indian foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, asserted that India's commitment to non-proliferation was "second to none."

Surprisingly, Mukherjee's visit comes in the backdrop of a fierce argument at home within coalition partners that constitute the ruling UPA government in New Delhi. The Left wing elements within the coalition have been leading a determined campaign to block all progress on the Indo-US nuclear deal, designed by the United States to bring India out of the nuclear doghouse. It is not clear what purpose the minister hoped to achieve with this visit, when the host country's stand on the supply of nuclear material is already well known.

It was only appropriate, therefore, that Mukherjee should clarify this point when he spoke to the media after a meeting with his counterpart, Stephen Smith.

"I have not come here with one issue of getting uranium from Australia. We are aware of the Labour party position on uranium for quite some time. Australia's commitment to non-proliferation is firm and we respect that," Mukherjee said at a joint press conference after a meeting with his Australian counterpart, Stephen Smith.

"So far our requirement of uranium is concerned I think it's too early to refer to that as it has been pointed out by minister Smith...I am really busy back home in political front in regard to implementing 123 Agreement with the US. It is an exercise to catch a trend which has no possibility or when it will arrive at the platform we don't know."

"Once we have the entire process in place and uranium trade with India is permissible as per the international arrangement then and there the question will come," he said.

"Once we have the entire process in place and uranium trade with India is permissible as per the international arrangement then and there the question will come," he said.

Smith said if and when the 123 Agreement reaches IAEA or NSG, Australia will give consideration to what the arrangement is. "We have told US government also that when such a thing happens, Australia will then give its consideration to the proposal."

Mukherjee also affirmed that India's was fully committed to non-proliferation, and the two countries share a common goal of a nuclear-free world. 

For now, both sides have decided, ever so gently, to sidestep the issue.