Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) With the US indicating that it is open to Islamabad’s plea for a civil nuclear deal, India Monday hoped that Washington would bear in mind Pakistan’s record of clandestine proliferation before making such a move.
“I think, the US would always look into the track record of every country with which they are going for certain understanding or signing a treaty,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters.

“I am sure that the US will constantly remember that the proliferation of nuclear weapons was because of certain indiscretions of certain countries, and more particularly Pakistan and the clandestine activities which they carried on,” he said.

He added this aspect “will have to be kept in mind…I am sure the US will”.

Krishna’s remarks came in the wake of indications from the US that “working-level talks on a civil nuclear deal” could take place in Washington March 24 during the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue.

Indicating a significant policy shift, American Ambassador to Islamabad Anne Patterson told a journal in an interview that the US and Pakistan were to have “working level talks” on the subject during a strategic dialogue on March 24.

Patterson reportedly said that the US was “beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan government” on its desire to harness nuclear energy.

Agreeing that earlier US “non-proliferation concerns were quite severe”, she said attitudes in Washington were changing.

“I think we are beginning to pass those and this is a scenario that we are going to explore,” she said.

The envoy’s remarks have created apprehensions in India’s strategic establishment about the implications of such a move for the country.

India will be keeping a close watch on the forthcoming US-Pakistan strategic dialogue for any hint of a nuclear understanding.

There is need for striking the “right balance” between Pakistan’s needs for energy, and its history of proliferation, said well-placed sources close to the government.

Pakistan has cited the festering power crisis across the country to make a fresh pitch with the US for an India-like nuclear deal.

“We hope international community would strike the right balance between meeting energy needs of any country while taking on board its track record with regard to proliferation of nuclear technology and weapons of mass destruction,” a source said.

Former US president George W. Bush, the prime mover behind the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal, had rejected Pakistan’s plea for an India-like nuclear deal during his visit to New Delhi and Islamabad in 2006 on grounds of Islamabad’s dubious proliferation record.

US Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer, however, declined to comment on the reports.

Unfazed by political opposition to the civil nuclear liability bill within India, the envoy said he was “optimistic and positive” about completing the nuclear deal with India, but kept quiet on speculation about a similar deal with Pakistan.

“I am working full time on implementing the nuclear deal,” he told reporters here.

“We are optimistic and positive that we are going to complete this in the months ahead,” the US envoy said.