New Delhi: India is viewing with concern reports that America is now considering a civil nuclear agreement with Pakistan on the lines of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
As word about a civil nuclear deal for Pakistan on the lines of the India-US nuclear deal spread, there was lightning quick denial from the US Embassy in Islamabad.
The statement issued by the embassy said the US has not entered into civil nuclear negotiations with Pakistan.
"The US is committed to helping Pakistan address its real and growing energy needs and we look forward to cooperating in ways compatible with Pakistan''s economic, environmental, and security needs and with US international commitments and policies."
The statement is silent on whether talks on civil nuclear cooperation will take place during the first US-Pakistan strategic dialogue on Wednesday. A high level Pakistani delegation is already in Washington DC and Foreign Minister Qureshi seemed quite clear.
"My message to Washington is we've been talking a lot. The time has come to walk the talk. We've done our bit, we've delivered," said Qureshi.
He was referring to Pakistani cooperation in the war against the Taliban and the need for quid pro quo from the US. And given the Pakistani generals obsession with strategic parity vis-a-vis India a nuclear deal would go down just fine.
It's not clear if Pakistan has thought through the demand, not least the worldwide perception that the Pakistani army has been complicit in AQ Khan's nuclear black-marketing. Add to that, certain opposition from the US Congress and hurdles in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
But it was US Ambassador Anne Patterson who had set the rumour mills going by hinting it was time to look beyond Pakistan's nuclear misbehaviour. Washington may clarify before long.
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