Pakistan wants nuclear deal with US

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is pitching for a nuclear deal with the United States similar to the one Washington has made with India, saying that the chapter of AQ Khan’s nuclear proliferation activities was over.

“There should be no discrimination. And if they want to give civilian nuclear status to India, we would also expect the same for Pakistan too,” the Prime Minister said in a conversation with Richard Haass, President of Council on Foreign Relations, at a meeting here. Questioned about Dr. Khan’s network, Gilani said it was broken. “Certainly it cannot happen again and that chapter is over. The network is broken,” Gilani said. He said the new elected government wanted to have good relations with India, working for enhancing bilateral trade and would like to resolve all issues, including Kashmir.

On Kashmir, Gilani said “they (United States) should encourage and support this issue. That means only they can understand”, but refrained from asking Washington to play the role of a mediator.