Pakistan hails Manmohan's remark on nuclear deal

He had said it was a bilateral matter between Islamabad and Washington

Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the stance taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the prospect of a ‘U.S.-Pakistan civil nuclear deal.' Referring to Dr. Singh's comment that it was a bilateral matter — a view that is in variance with the position taken by the Indian External Affairs Ministry — Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said: “It is good to see India taking a position based on the principle of non-discrimination.”

Earlier, Pakistan had bristled over official sources in India stating that “we hope the international community would strike the right balance between meeting the energy needs of any country while taking on board its track record with regard to proliferation of nuclear technology and weapons of mass destruction.”

Dr. Singh's assertion that he had no

locus standi to interfere in a civil nuclear deal between two sovereign nations comes at a time when Pakistan is upbeat over its invitation to the just-concluded Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Gilani's observation

Asked what the country had achieved from the summit, Mr. Basit echoed Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's observation that his country's participation had helped reinforce its credentials as a nuclear weapons state. What has brought great cheer to the diplomatic and nuclear establishment here is the confidence voiced by U.S. President Barack Obama on the safety of Pakistan's nuclear materials.

About Mr. Gilani and Dr. Singh shaking hands in Washington, the spokesman said: “There was mutual warmth in the handshake.” As for a formal meeting in Bhutan on the sidelines of the forthcoming summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, his comment was: “It has not yet been pencilled in.”

Road map for talks

While pointing out that the road map for talks suggested by Pakistan included a summit meeting in Bhutan, Mr. Basit added: “Engaging in meaningful and result-oriented talks is in our mutual interest and in the interest of the region. It is not a favour by Pakistan to India or vice-versa.”

On Dr. Singh voicing his concerns to U. S. President Barack Obama about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear assets and possibility of military aid to Pakistan being used against India, the Foreign Office contention was that the Indian Prime Minister primarily reiterated a known position.

U.S.-Pakistan ties

Specifically on U.S.-Pakistan ties, Mr. Basit said this partnership was not against the interest of any third country and would, in turn, help promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region.