Terming the US-India nuclear deal a major cause of power imbalance in the region, President General Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that US-India relations needed a second look.
He was talking to US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher, who called on him. Matters relating to Pak-US relations and regional issues of common interest came under discussion.
Boucher heads the newly expanded Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at US State Department.
President Musharraf urged US leadership for a balanced approach that would prevent arms race and promote legitimate civil nuclear energy needs of Pakistan. He underlined the importance of consolidating and expanding bilateral co-operation in diverse areas in the framework of the Pakistan-US Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership issued during the visit of President Bush to Pakistan last month.
The President reiterated the resolve of the government to maintain high economic growth rate, saying that Pakistan's increasing energy requirements could be met through a variety of sources, including nuclear power generation.
He underscored the importance of expeditious realisation of the proposal for setting up 'Reconstruction Opportunity Zones' for the development of Tribal and earthquake affected areas.
Talking on the regional matters, the President reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the peace process with India, and Pakistan's efforts for the resolution of all issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He underlined the importance of moving towards conflict resolution in South Asia.
The President noted Pakistan's vital stake in peace, stability and the reconstruction process in Afghanistan. He stressed that Pakistan was making all possible efforts to promote security along the Afghan border.
Musharraf stressed that securing this border was a joint responsibility of both countries. Pakistan would continue to work with its international partners in this regard, he added.
Boucher said that the US was committed to seeking a broader and lasting strategic relationship with Pakistan. He said that his country would enhance its support with a view to strengthening Pakistan's socio-economic development.
Agencies add; US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher on Wednesday said his country was working on further strengthening and expanding strategic partnership with Pakistan.
Talking to media here at the US Embassy, Boucher said Pakistan-US relations were poised to gain further strength and deepen.
He said he held strategic and open talks with the Pakistani leadership to enhance co-operation in all fields, particularly economy, education and energy.
He said, "US was committed to seeking a broader and lasting strategic relationship with Pakistan."
He said the US government was providing $30 million in the transition phase in the quake zone to help the affected people in returning to their homes.
He said the US was among the first countries to respond and had already pledged $510 million for relief and rehabilitation of around four million quake-affected people in northern Pakistan.
Boucher described his visit to Pakistan as a follow-up to the US-Pakistan strategic partnership announced during President Bush's visit in March.
He said his visit was to pursue matters agreed upon in the agenda set during President Bush's discussions with President General Pervez Musharraf.
He said Pakistan and the United States were partners in many areas, including the fight against terrorism and extremism, besides co-operation in economy and education. He also appreciated Pakistan's efforts in the war against terrorism and effective measures taken by the country.
He said President Bush's visit to Pakistan was an important milestone towards deepening strategic ties with Pakistan.
Boucher also spoke of the ongoing discussions between the two sides on energy co-operation and said Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan will soon lead a delegation to Washington.
The foreign secretary's visit will be a follow up to the discussions held by US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman with senior officials in Islamabad on developing alternative sources of energy for the country.
About the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, he said, the United States was still committed to nuclear non-proliferation treaty and said, "We are not oblivious to the effects of what we are doing."
He said that in his talks with Foreign Minister Kasuri both the sides discussed 'de-hyphenated' US relations with Pakistan and India.
About Pakistan-India composite dialogue to resolve Kashmir dispute, Boucher said he had "productive discussions" on the issue, adding, "We are interested (as) friends to both the sides."
He said that there has been "remarkable improvement" in the Pakistan-India relations during the last two years.
During his stay in Pakistan, Boucher called on President Pervez Musharraf and also met Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker and the chief election commissioner (CEC).
He said the new CEC was working hard to make the elections free and fair.
"We are looking forward to strengthening of democratic institutions in Pakistan," he said, adding, "Things were heading in the right direction."
Boucher replied in negative when asked whether the statements made by the Afghan government in the recent past were influenced by the United States?
"No ... we are careful as we are working with our friends and allies in the region in a way to promote stability, rather than problems."
About the Pak-Afghan border, he said it was a common problem owing to a common geography, adding, "It is not an easy place to police."
He, however, said that the problem could not alone be resolved by deploying more troops.
On the Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline, he said, "We do have some concerns, but we support the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline project as it will open up Central Asian States and will be beneficial for Afghanistan and Pakistan."
On the importance of expeditious realisation of the proposal for setting up Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), Boucher said, both Pakistan and Afghanistan can produce products for the US markets.
He said the press in Pakistan was free and was playing an important role.
About joining Saarc as observer, he said, "No formal letter has been sent, but we are interested in an observer status."
He said the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) is a major reason for the US interest and said his country encourages such trade activities.
He said investigations into a global underground nuclear proliferation network headed by Abdul Qadeer Khan have not been abandoned. Pakistan is at the centre of probes into a nuclear black market run by Qadeer Khan, who confessed in 2004 to passing atomic secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
"It is an ongoing thing. We expect it to continue," Boucher said when asked if the US is still seeking to speak to Qadeer.
He said that nuclear proliferation was an "ongoing problem" and international community was working together to stop it.
He said that Pakistan had good relations with the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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