US Denies India-like Civilian Nuke Deal to Pak

Soon after statement of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that his country ‘qualifies’ for an India-like civilian nuclear deal with the US, the Obama administration has made it clear in a blunt message that such a deal is not on platter of its talks with Islamabad, said media reports

“We are focused on Pakistan’s energy needs, but, as we said last week, right now that does not include civilian nuclear energy,” assistant secretary of state for public affairs P J Crowley was quoted as saying while talking to reporters.

A high-level Pakistani delegation headed by foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue in Pakistan last month and sought a civil nuclear deal with the US on the lines of that of India. The US, however, neither gave any solid assurance nor did it totally turn down the request.

In the meanwhile, chairing a special meeting of parliamentary committee on national security in Islamabad, Gilani said that Pakistan ‘fully qualifies’ for it as it has put in place effective security and non-proliferation measures, said reports.

“A well established, foolproof safety and security culture fully qualifies Pakistan for equal participation in civil nuclear cooperation at the international level, which would help us in addressing our immediate energy problems and would bring greater stability as well,” Gilani had said.

To this, Crowley said that US had full confidence in the safety and security of nuclear weapons in Pakistan, reports said.

“I think various US leaders have expressed confidence in the security of the Pakistani weapons. I’m not going to go any further than that,” he was quoted as saying.

(Based on internet reports)