Praising India's track record on non proliferation, the US has said it did not suggest a civlian nuclear energy deal with Pakistan as it did not have a record of protecting its nuclear materials.
"India has a good record in protecting its own nuclear materials it has developed, not proliferated them in a way that some other countries have," US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told reporters Monday evening.
He said the deal will not stand up if India did not have the record. "It does have that record," he said.
"North Korea does not have that record. Iran certainly does not have that record. And Pakistan doesn't either. Obviously, we did not suggest this deal for Pakistan," Burns said when asked by a reporter if the government of Pakistan is reponsible for the activities of A Q Khan.
"The government of Pakistan reacted to the public disclosure of the A Q Khan activities. The government of Pakistan has ended those activities," Burns said.
The senior administration official said the Bush administration was careful to keep Pakistan informed about the developments relating to the civilian nuclear energy deal with India even if, obviously, Islamabad is not "thrilled" with the agreement.
Asked whether the United States offered any economic incentives to India for the vote against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said, "India made its own decisions. In fact way back in September and again in February, India made its own sovereign decision on the Iranian question."
Pressed further, he said "None whatsoever. India makes its own decision."
© 2024 Rediff.com -