India's government said Monday it would hold off on implementing a controversial nuclear deal with the United States after again failing to win over sceptical coalition partners.
After another round of inconclusive talks with its wavering left-wing allies, officials from the dominant Congress party said the atomic energy pact would be shelved for another four weeks. Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters that the accord would not be "operationalised" before November 16, when more talks are planned.
The Congress party of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared to buckle last week under opposition from its leftist allies, who had threatened to withdraw their support and force early elections if the pact went ahead.