US ready to consider Pak's request for n-deal: Clinton

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Mar 23 (PTI) In the clearest sign yet from
Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday said
the US would "consider" Pakistan's request for a civil nuclear
deal as Islamabad sought atomic cooperation and military
hardware to bring itself on par with India.
However, her remarks were tempered with the rider that
the civil nuclear deal with India did not happen "easily or
quickly" and was the result of "many, many" years of strategic
dialogue.
The first ministerial-level US-Pakistan strategic
dialogue, scheduled to start tomorrow in Washington, is aimed
at sorting out different issues expected to be raised by
Pakistan, including a possible demand for a civil nuclear
deal, Clinton said in an interview with a Pakistani news
channel.
Ahead of the crucial dialogue, Pakistan submitted a
56-page document to Obama Administration seeking among other
things a civil nuclear deal and drone technology.
Notwithstanding India's reservations, Clinton made it
clear that the issue of energy would be one of the subjects of
discussion but refused to pre-judge the outcome of the talks.
"I'm sure that that's going to be raised and we're
going to be considering it but I can't pre-judge or pre-empt
what the outcome of our discussions will be except to say that
this strategic dialogue is at the highest level we've ever had
between our two countries," she said on Pakistan's
expectations of being given a civil nuclear deal.
In response to another query about the need for a
civil nuclear deal to help Pakistan cope with an energy crisis
and to address the Pakistan Army's concerns related to India,
she said: "I can't speak for anyone else's impressions but
that (the civil nuclear deal with India) was the result of
many, many years of strategic dialogue. It did not happen
easily or quickly."
Clinton added: "I think on the energy issue
specifically there are more immediate steps that can be taken
that have to help with (Pakistan's power) grid, other sources
of energy, to upgrade power plants and the like. We are
certainly looking at those and we want to help Pakistan with
its immediate and long-term energy needs."
The US has a "broad agenda" for the strategic
dialogue, which includes the issue of civil nuclear
cooperation with Pakistan, she said. (MORE) PTI