WASHINGTON: There has been “no discussion of civilian nuclear technology” between the United States and Pakistan, the US State Department said on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said at a briefing in Islamabad that Pakistan and the US had agreed in principle to continue dialogue on cooperation in civil nuclear technology. The minister, however, also said that no timeline could be given for any agreement on the issue.
The finance minister made these remarks after a meeting with the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation president Elizabeth Littlefield.
At the State Department, spokesman Patrick Ventrell told a briefing that the United States was aware of Pakistan’s energy needs and wanted to help Islamabad overcome the energy crisis but there had been “no discussion of civilian nuclear technology”.
Mr Ventrell welcomed Pakistan’s interest in buying electricity from India, saying that “anything that improves relations between India and Pakistan is a good thing” and it includes (cooperation) in the energy sector as well.
Pakistan has been urging the United States for some time to conclude a deal for civil nuclear technology similar to the one finalised with India. Washington, however, has been reluctant to do so due to concerns linked to the proliferation ring run by Pakistani scientist A. Q. Khan.