India unhappy with reports of US willingness to discuss civil nuke deal with Pak

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) India Monday reacted with
palpable unhappiness to reports that the US was willing to
discuss a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan with India's
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna drawing attention to its
"clandestine activities" in the field.

Krishna was guarded in his comments but Opposition
parties like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left
cautioned the US against such a move. "The US should think
whether this help is going to create more terrorism in the
world," BJP President Nitin Gadkari said.
"I think, the US would always look into the track
record of every country with which they are going for certain
understanding or signing a treaty.
"I am sure that the US will constantly remember that
the proliferation of nuclear weapons was because of certain
indiscretions of certain countries and more particularly
Pakistan and the clandestine activities which they carried
on," Krishna said.
He said this aspect "will have to be kept in mind...I
am sure the US will".
The reports that the US was willing to discuss with
Islamabad a civil nuclear deal, similar to that with India,
were based on remarks attributed to US Ambassador to Pakistan
Anne Patterson who was quoted as saying the US was "beginning
to have a discussion with the Pakistan government" on the
country's desire to tap nuclear energy.
She noted that earlier America's "non-proliferation
concerns were quite severe" but "I think we are beginning to
pass those and this is a scenario that we are going to
explore". But there was no confirmation of these moves from
Washington.
US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer sidestepped a
question on the issue, saying he was working full time on
implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Gadkari also noted that Pakistan supports terrorism,
he said there would be problems for the world if the US gives
nuclear technology or defence help to it.
Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said the
US move reflected its "very narrow, selfish vested interests".
He said the US had so far been encouraging arms race
but now it is going to promote nuclear arms race because of
its "large business interest". PTI PYK
MRD