US ambassador David Mulford's language was some of the toughest yet by a US representative about delays in India's clearance of the deal which would give New Delhi crucial access to civilian atomic technology.

In a television interview aired on Saturday, he called the agreement India's "passport to the world," adding its collapse would "affect the trust and discretion" in Indo-US relations.

"If this agreement is not processed in the present (US) Congress it is unlikely that this deal will be offered again to India," Mulford told CNN-IBN.

Asked whether it was "now or maybe never" for the deal, Mulford replied, "That's pretty close to it."

The deal -- first agreed by US President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 -- is regarded by the governments of the two nations as a cornerstone of new, warmer Indo-US ties.

But Indian communists have threatened to withdraw backing for the minority Congress government if it goes ahead with the pact without their approval.

They say the accord threatens India's nuclear weapons programme and could allow US intervention in its foreign policy. India's government rejects the claims and says the deal is needed to provide new fuel sources to keep energy-hungry India's economy growing strongly.

Under the accord, India will separate its civilian and military programmes and place 14 of its 22 nuclear plants under unprecedented international safeguards in return for civilian nuclear technology.

Washington, in return, has promised to amend the US Atomic Energy Act which prevents the United States from trading nuclear technology with nations such as India that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The deal will enable India to keep its military programme while still benefiting from international civilian nuclear commerce.

India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 and, as a result, is banned from buying fuel for atomic reactors and related equipment.

The pact still needs approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency to place India's civilian nuclear reactors under UN safeguards and the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group which regulates global civilian nuclear trade.

Afterwards the agreement requires final approval by the US Congress where it currently enjoys bipartisan support.

But Washington officials say the deal is running out of time with a tight 2008 legislative calendar ahead of November's US presidential elections and that the ball is in India's court to move it along.

"It certainly would not be revived and offered by any administration, Democratic or Republican before the year 2010," Mulford said. "If it were to be revived it would have to go through the Committee process and I think non-proliferation groups would insist on changes."

Some US critics fear the deal would hurt efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

An Indian government spokesman had no comment on Saturday but Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said last weekend opposing the deal was "similar to opposing computerisation and automation."

India has begun talks with the IAEA on a safeguards accord but the UN body and New Delhi have yet to find common ground.

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