Washington: Asserting that nuclear proliferation in South Asia was different from the dangers posed by the "rogue nations" – Iraq, Iran and North Korea – a top US official has said Washington was pursuing "boldly different relationships" with India and Pakistan.

On the non-proliferation issue with India, "there are tough questions about how far we can go," assistant secretary for non-proliferation John S Wolf said in a prepared statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We must continually weigh our mutual interests in co-operation against our obligations under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Atomic Energy Act," he said on March 19.

The situation in South Asia, Wolf said, "deserves special mention, as it is quite different from the dangers posed by the rogue states. India and Pakistan are two very different countries, with which we are pursuing boldly different relationships."

"We need to take account of the unique situation posed by their possession of nuclear weapons. From the (State Department's) non-proliferation bureau perspective, ongoing tensions in South Asia make especially important these countries' control on sensitive technology," he added.

The US was "mindful of the risks that nuclear weapons could be used, either intentionally or accidentally in a crisis", Wolf said, adding "We discuss these issues regularly with officials from both countries. I convey our concerns and help identify possible solutions whenever I meet with my Indian and Pakistani counterparts."

PTI