Friday, September 9 2005 15:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Rejecting Pakistan's demand for parity with India in accessing civilian nuclear technology, the US has said that the landmark accord with New Delhi was a 'mechanism to deepen' further its commitment to international non-proliferation.

"We view India as an exceptional case, and see civil nuclear cooperation as a mechanism to deepen further India's commitment to international nonproliferation," Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert G Joseph said yesterday (Sept 8, 2005).

His comments at the House International Relations Committee came close on the heels of Pakistan Ambassador Jehangir Karamat remarks that Islamabad should have the same access to US civilian nuclear technology as has been proposed by President George W Bush for India.

Joseph said some countries have asked whether it might be possible for US to extend such cooperation to Israel and Pakistan--the only other two (de facto weapon) states that did not join the NPT, adding India, Israel and Pakistan are each unique and require different approaches.

"Neither Pakistan nor Israel has a civil nuclear energy programme that approximates that of India. The United States has no plans to seek full civil nuclear cooperation with Israel or Pakistan," he said.

Joseph said people have questioned the rationale behind inking a civil nuclear cooperation pact with India, as it was not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and have asked why a cap on India's production of fissile material for weapons was not part of the deal.

He said the US recognize that India was a special case and see a clear need to come to terms with it.

"India has informed us that it has no intention of becoming a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear state at this time. Despite this, it is important to seize this opportunity to assist India in becoming a more constructive partner in our global non-proliferation efforts," he said.

Joseph also pointed out that Pakistan does not have the same energy requirements that India does and cited, without elaboration, Islamabad 'non-proliferation record' . This referred to the activities of the country's disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan's network, which secretly provided nuclear weapons technology to Libya, Iran, North Korea and other countries.

Karamat, Pakistan's former army chief, was quoted yesterday as saying that the "balance of power in South Asia should not become so tilted in India's favor, as a result of the US relationship with India, that Pakistan has to start taking extraordinary measures to ensure a capability for deterrence and defence."

"Whatever legislation is made shouldn't be a specific, one-time affair just for India but should leave the door open for other countries that meet the same criteria and show good responsibility and satisfy the United States' concerns."