New Delhi: With the US indicating its
readiness to discuss civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, India on Monday hoped it would keep in mind Pakistan's track record on
proliferation before deciding on the issue.
As it keeps a close watch on the developments, India says
the "right balance" has to be struck between meeting
Pakistan's energy needs and its history of proliferation.
"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,"
official sources said.
The comment came in the wake of US Ambassador to Pakistan
Anne Patterson reportedly saying the US was "beginning to have
a discussion with the Pakistan government" on the country's
desire to tap nuclear energy.
She noted that earlier America's "non-proliferation
concerns were quite severe" but "I think we are beginning to
pass those and this is a scenario that we are going to
explore."
Patterson said "working level talks" on the issue would be
held in Washington this month.
The statement marks a significant shift in the US position
as it had earlier repeatedly turned down Pakistan's pleas for
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.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 22, 2010, 15:53