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Friday, March 26, 2010
Pakistan satisfied with US N-talks: Qureshi
* Foreign minister says discussions on nuclear issue went well
* US says civilian nuclear talks ‘not on the table’WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that his team had “very satisfactory” talks with Washington on civilian nuclear cooperation, but a senior US official played down prospects of a deal.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan is pressing for a nuclear cooperation arrangement similar to one its key rival India has with the US but Washington has been reluctant to enter into any formal talks on the issue. Qureshi told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that the meetings with US officials on nuclear cooperation, non-proliferation and export controls had gone well. “I am quite satisfied with the discussions we had,” Qureshi said when asked about the nuclear cooperation issue. “I would not like to expand on it at this stage.” He added that “the talks were very satisfactory” but declined to specify the kind of cooperation Pakistan sought.
Nuclear talks: Asked about Qureshi’s comments, a senior US official made clear there were no plans for any formal talks, noting there was no reference to the civilian nuclear issue in a statement released on Thursday after the two days of meetings. “It is not on the table and the Pakistani views are well understood and we listened carefully to them,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The high-level talks in Washington were aimed at boosting ties between the often-uneasy allies as the US relies on cooperation from Pakistan in its fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan.
Washington has been dubious about talks on sharing nuclear technology, partly because of fears it would upset India but also due to concerns over the case of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. “I think that is behind us,” Qureshi said when asked about the Khan case. “I think they understand the new command-control structures we have in place. I think they are pretty satisfied with security and safety systems in place in Pakistan and there is recognition of that.”
Energy crisis: Asked whether Islamabad wanted the same kind of nuclear deal that Washington has with India, Qureshi said: “I am against discrimination.” Qureshi said Pakistan country was looking at a multi-pronged approach to the energy crisis that included boosting the current small capacity for nuclear power. “We have to modernise and tap on indigenous resources like hydro, coal. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk