US ‘clueless’ about Pak’s demands for India-type civilian N-deal

WASHINGTON - While Pakistan has time and again urged the US to enter into a civil nuclear deal with it similar to India, Washington has said it is ‘unaware’ of any such request being made by that country.

“I don’t know,” US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley said while responding to a question regarding Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani’s statement last week.

It may be noted that Haqqani had claimed that the Pakistan government had started negotiating with the US for an agreement on nuclear technology.

Crowley, however, said that the Obama administration is eager to help Pakistan, particularly in the civilian domain.

“Well, and in fact, we are addressing them (Pakistan’s concerns) specifically. We have a significant military relationship and provide security assistance, but we have restructured the nature of our assistance so that more of it is civilian in nature, emphasis is on energy and the delivery of electricity,” The Nation quoted Crowley, as saying.

He said Washington is committed to help Pakistan resolve numerous issues surrounding it and is working with the Pakistan government to improve the quality of life of the people of that country, which is the best way to prevent people from taking the path of militancy.

“In fact we have a different balance than we have in the past in terms of making sure that not only can we help Pakistan meet its security needs, but more importantly, helping the Government of Pakistan with the delivery of services so that we can improve the lives of the average Pakistani citizen.That is going to be, in the long term, the best way to combat extremism,” he said. (ANI)