US-Pak N-deal? India asks US to keep Pak's track record in mind

With the US indicating its readiness to discuss civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, India today hoped it would keep in mind Pakistan's track record on proliferation before deciding on the issue.

With the US indicating its readiness to discuss civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, India today hoped it would keep in mind Pakistan's track record on proliferation before deciding on the issue.

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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.