The United States Senate on Thursday passed a legislation that will enable the passage of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

Here's a round-up of what the world media had to say about the deal.

The Washington Post in its report said the deal will radically change US foreign policy for decades.

'Although the effort has garnered little attention outside Washington, it has the potential to radically alter U.S. foreign policy for decades. Bush administration officials say they believe it will accelerate India's rise as a regional counterweight to China and provide the United States with a new foothold in Asia,' the paper said.

The Los Angeles Times hailed the deal as the cornerstone of the foreign policy of the Manmohan Singh [Images] government.

'The Indian government had watched the bill's progress for months. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has staked much of his foreign policy on strengthening ties with the U.S., and the nuclear deal forms the cornerstone of that effort,' it said.

The New York Times praised Senator Richard Lugar for his efforts in ensuring that the deal passed through the Senate without any 'killer amendment'.

'His endorsement was significant, coming from a senator respected for efforts in nonproliferation and whose name is part of a sweeping program to secure nuclear bomb-making materials in the former Soviet Union,' it said.

The British Broadcasting Corporation was of the opinion that the US should not be rewarding India for having secretly developed a nuclear weapons programme.

It's correspondent Shahzeb Jillani in Washington says, 'Critics believe America should not be rewarding India for having secretly developing a nuclear weapons programme and refusing to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.'

Pakistan daily The Nation focused on reports that have indicated that China will reward Pakistan with a civilian nuclear deal similar to the one that India has got from the United States.

It also emphasised the Pakistan government's security concerns.

'Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, discussing the implications of the US-India nuclear deal, said Pakistan could never be oblivious of the requirements of its security.

'Pakistan, he said, would welcome U.S. role in the interest of stability and peace and security in South Asia,' the report said.