With the US expressing willingness to discuss a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, India today made clear its reservations against such a move.
With the US expressing willingness to discuss a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, India today made clear its reservations against such a move and asked the Obama administration to keep in mind Pakistan's track record of clandestine proliferation.
"I think, the US would always look into the track record of every country with which they are going for certain understanding or signing a treaty," external affairs minister S M Krishna told reporters.
"I am sure that the US will constantly remember that the proliferation of nuclear weapons was because of certain indiscretions of certain countries and more particularly
Pakistan and the clandestine activities which they carried
on," he said.
He said this aspect "will have to be kept in mind...I am sure the US will".
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, arguing that Pakistan's track record was not as good as that of India, which had a strong history of non-proliferation.
As India keeps a close watch on the developments, official sources said "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."
When asked, US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer refused to comment on Patterson's remarks, saying he was working full time on implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The US move invited strong reactions from political parties here, with BJP and the Left asking it to reconsider any such initiative.
"I feel that it (nuclear deal between US and Pakistan) is a very sensitive issue. The US should think whether this help is going to create more terrorism in the world," BJP president Nitin Gadkari said.
Noting that Pakistan supports terrorism, he said there would be problems for the world if the US gives nuclear technology or defence help to it.
CPI leader D Raja said the US move reflected its "very narrow, selfish vested interests".
He said the US had so far been encouraging arms race but now it is going to promote nuclear arms race because of its "large business interest".
Contending that he was not surprised by such a move of the US, Raja said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the government "cannot be so naive not to understand the US' global strategy" which is seen in play in South Asia as well.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}