for-tat nuclear tests. Pike predicted Bush would treat India as an exception "because they are emerging as one of our leading strategic partners, and we're prepared to make exceptions in the case of countries that we need." But opponents of any policy change say setting aside the rules for India would make it harder for the United States to stop Russian or Chinese transfers to states of concern. Bush's push to help India increase its coal and nuclear power generating capacity is being driven at least in part to give New Delhi an alternative to a proposed $4 billion gas pipeline deal with Tehran, which Washington accuses of trying to secretly develop nuclear weapons. Singh said India had a "compelling case" for a permanent seat on an expanded U.N. Security Council. But Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said Bush told Singh the United States wanted fundamental reforms of the United Nations before any expansion of the council and hoped there would be no vote on council enlargement in coming weeks. "Once those reforms are made, then of course we'd be willing to look at the question of U.N. Security Council expansion," he said.
