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US considering civil N-deal with Pakistan: Report

Islamabad - "Pakistan has been asked to consider what are described as 'brackets'," The Washington Post quoted a source familiar with the talks between the two countries as saying.

The United States is exploring an option that could pave the way for a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan like the one concluded with India in 2005, says a report published in daily The Washington Post.
"The issue is being discussed quietly in the run-up to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Washington on October 22," said leading columnist David Ignatius in an article he wrote for the Post.
"Pakistan has been asked to consider what are described as 'brackets'," The Washington Post quoted a source familiar with the talks between the two countries as saying.
It said Pakistan would agree to restrict its nuclear programme to weapons and delivery systems that are appropriate to its actual defence needs against India's nuclear threat.
"Pakistan might agree not to deploy missiles capable of reaching beyond a certain range," the Post said. In return for such an agreement, the US might support an eventual waiver for Pakistan by the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, of which it is a member, the paper said.
"At US urging, that group agreed to exempt India from rules that banned nuclear trade with countries that evaded the Non-Proliferation Treaty," the Post said.
"We are in regular contact with the government of Pakistan on a range of issues as we prepare for the prime minister's visit," a US government spokesperson told Dawn when asked for comments on the report. "We'll decline comment on the specifics of these discussions," she added
The spokesperson also said that the United States "urges all nuclear-capable states, including Pakistan, to exercise restraint" regarding nuclear weapons and missile capabilities.
"We encourage efforts to strengthen safety and security measures and continue to hold regular discussions with Pakistan on a range of global issues, including nuclear security, counter-terrorism, and international norms," she said.
Pakistan's Ambassador in Washington, Jalil Abbas Jilani, emphasised the "defensive" nature of his country's nuclear programme when asked for comments on the Post report.
"Pakistan's nuclear programme is determined by our legitimate security concerns and Pakistan would never compromise on its national security," he said.
news@khaleejtimes.com
(With inputs from PTI)

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