Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Washington with a high-power delegation to hold the first-ever strategic dialogue with the US leaders.<br/><br/>During the talks, Pakistan is expected to seek civilian nuclear deal and military equipments aimed at balancing its power with India. <br/><br/>Prominent members of the delegation include Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, ISI Chief Lieutenant General Shuja Pasha and Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar. <br/><br/>Obama Administration has clarified that US-Pak strategic dialogue is not at the expense of India or any other country. <br/><br/>US envoy in Islamabad Anne W Patterson was quoted as saying in a Los Angeles-based Pakistani newspaper that they are beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan government on the country’s desire to tap nuclear energy. <br/><br/>Earlier, the US officials insisted that their deal for supplying nuclear power plants to India was exclusive to New Delhi and could not be offered to another country.<br/><br/>Amidst indication from the US administration that it is open to Islamabad’s plea for a civilian nuclear deal similar to it signed with India ,BJP today said that Pakistan cannot be trusted with to keep a nuclear commitment. <br/><br/>Senior party leader Prof V.K Malhotra, urged the Centre to raise this issue with the US as soon as possible. <br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that experts are of the view that the International Community must take into account Pakistan’s past record on the proliferation before allowing this deal.
News On AIR | March 22, 2010 2:28 PM
Qureshi in Washington to hold strategic dialogue: foucs on civil nuclear deal