New Delhi
22 March 2010
India has cautioned the US against entering into civil nuclear cooperation with
Pakistan in disregard of that country's poor non-proliferation record.
It hoped the international community would strike the right balance between meeting
energy needs of Pakistan while taking on board
its track record with regard to proliferation of nuclear technology and weapons of mass
destruction.
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna amplified New Delhi's concerns by reminding the
US that the proliferation of nuclear weapons was because of indiscretions of certain
countries and particularly clandestine activities by Pakistan.
"[This aspect] will have to be kept in mind.... I am sure the US will," Mr Krishna said
here. He added: "I am sure that the US will constantly remember that".
New Delhi was responding to media reports here which cited US Ambassador to Pakistan
Anne Patterson as saying that the US is "beginning to have a discussion with the
Pakistan government" on the country's desire to tap nuclear energy, which is a departure
from the US' earlier stand.
"We are beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan government" on civil nuclear
energy, Ms Patterson was quoted as saying in "Pakistan Link," a Los Angeles-based
Pakistani newspaper.
"We are going to have working level talks" on the issue in Washington in March, she
said.
The envoy noted that earlier America's "non-proliferation concerns were quite severe"
but attitudes in Washington were changing. "I think we are beginning to pass those and
this is a scenario that we are going to explore," the report said quoting Ms Patterson.
Her statement marks a significant shift in the US position as it had repeatedly turned
down Pakistan's pleas for an India-type civil nuclear deal.
The US had been arguing that Pakistan's track record was not as good as that of India,
which had a strong history of non-proliferation.
US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer refused to comment when his attention was
drawn to Ms Patterson's remarks, saying he was working full time on implementation of
the India-US nuclear deal.
Mr Roemer was speaking to media on the sidelines of an event organised by USAID on
clean water and sanitation at a slum cluster here on the occasion of World Water Day.
Meanwhile, a PTI report from Islamabad said the US Embassy has dismissed reports
that it was mulling negotiations on a civil nuclear agreement with Pakistan.
"The US has not entered (into) negotiations on a civil nuclear agreement with Pakistan,"
a spokesperson of the US embassy in Islamabad told
PTI.
"The United States is committed to helping Pakistan address its real and growing energy
needs, and we look forward to cooperating with Pakistan in ways that are compatible with
Pakistan's economic, environmental and security needs and with US international
commitments and policies," the US Embassy spokesperson in Islamabad noted.
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