US Categorically Denies Atomic Power Plant, Nuke Deal to Pak

The US has categorically denied providing any atomic power plant or civilian nuclear deal on the lines of the one signed with India, reported PTI.

“The United States is working closely with Pakistan to help meet its growing needs. Nuclear power is not currently part of our discussions,” a senior Administration official was quoted as saying.

Report said that America recently told this to Pakistani officials, who have been pitching hard for a nuclear power plant.

Also, the US, report said quoting an unnamed official, told Pakistan that there is no question of their getting a civilian nuclear deal similar to the one it has signed with India.

The official said that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal is specific to India and there was no thinking going to create a template for it, said report.

On the other hand, the top American lawmakers and those in the US government, said official, are concerned about the safety of Pakistani nuclear weapons given the past experiences that the US had with Pakistan on nuclear proliferation issue and the episode of disgraced Pakistani scientist A Q Khan accused of transferring sensitive technologies abroad, report said.

The official ruled out any consideration to ‘that (nuclear power)’ option for Pakistan under these circumstances, report said.