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Pakistan seeks US nuclear energy cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, April 4, IRNA
Pakistan-US-Nuclear energy
Pakistan on Tuesday renewed its call on the United States to adopt a similar approach to the country as it took in the case of India with their recently concluded nuclear energy cooperation deal.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, in a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, shared Pakistan's perspective on the US' civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Kasuri underlined the need for a package approach that would prevent an arms race, promote restraint and address the legitimate civil nuclear energy needs of Pakistan.

While briefing Boucher about Pakistan's growing energy requirements, Foreign Minister Kasuri, during the meeting which lasted one-and-a-half hours, exchanged views with Assistant Secretary of State Boucher on a broad range of subjects including bilateral and regional issues of common interest.

Foreign Minister Kasuri and Assistant Secretary Boucher agreed that President George W Bush's visit to Pakistan had helped strengthen the broadening and deepening Pakistan-US relations, the statement said.

The countries' Strategic Partnership, affirmed by the two presidents, had taken the relationship to a qualitatively new level.

The launching of the Strategic Dialogue and new Institutional Frameworks established in the fields of energy, economy, education and science & technology would lend greater substance to the relationship.

Views were also exchanged on reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) and both sides are now working closely on a follow-up action and toward developing concrete ideas for collaboration in these areas, the statement said.

The two sides also discussed at length the situation in Afghanistan.

Boucher, who was in Kabul recently, shared his assessment of the situation with the Pakistani foreign minister, who said that maintaining close and friendly relations with Afghanistan was an imperative of his country's foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Kasuri highlighted Pakistan's efforts along the Afghan border and underscored Pakistan's resolve to work seriously with Afghanistan and international partners in addressing issues of common concern. Boucher appreciated the role Pakistan was playing in this regard.

Foreign Minister Kasuri briefed Assistant Secretary Boucher on the progress in the ongoing dialogue process with India aimed at addressing all outstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

He expressed the hope that it would be possible to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir that would lead to durable peace in South Asia.

Pakistan's gratitude for the recently completed work of the US Relief Mission in the earthquake zone was conveyed.

Foreign Minister Kasuri expressed the hope the US would remain engaged throughout the reconstruction phase of the quake-hit areas.

2020/235/2321/1414