The United States has asked Pakistan to first take necessary steps to address the non-proliferation concerns of the international community, especially on rogue scientist A Q Khan's clandestine network, as a basis for consideration of a request for a civilian nuclear deal.
Pakistan has so far failed to secure a clear commitment for its much sought-after civil nuclear deal from the US on the lines of that of India. It is believed that the US has not said a 'No' to the Pakistani request in this regard; but instead asked visiting delegation led by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, which also included Pakistani Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, to initiate steps that would restore the confidence of the international community in its nuclear programme.
The high-level Pakistani delegation is understood to have given assurances to initiate steps in this regard, the sources said, adding that the administration would closely monitor the developments in the country in this regard.
Topping the list is the complete disbanding of the rogue nuclear scientis A Q Khan network, so that the US is convinced that such a network could not grow up in the future.
It also requires international monitoring/inspection of its nuclear facilities.
"Given Pakistan's history of selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, such an agreement would realistically be 10 or 15 years away. Still, the administration was careful not to dismiss the idea out of hand," a senior administration official was quoted as saying by The New York Times.
In his opening remarks of the upgraded Strategic Dialogue, Qureshi had sought 'non-discriminatory use of available energy resources' for Pakistan, in an apparent reference to the civilian nuclear deal.
At a press conference, later in the day, in response to a question, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said this was one of the 'complicated issues' with Pakistan.
"We're committed to helping Pakistan meet its real energy needs," she said.
Qureshi was quoted in media as saying that he was very satisfied with the talks he had with the US on civilian nuclear deal. However, he refrained from giving any further details about the talks on civilian nuclear deal.
