Pakistan seeks deal

by James Morrison

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Pakistan is urging Washington to help build up its military to counter massive defense spending by India and talking with the Obama administration about reaching a civilian nuclear power deal like the one President George W. Bush negotiated with New Delhi, according to Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.

"India is our main concern, as it is buying weapons worth $100 billion from five countries, including China, and to balance it, our relations with the U.S. are very significant," Ambassador Husain Haqqani said over the weekend in the Pakistani province of Punjab at a reception hosted by Gov. Salmaan Taseer.

"We have to largely depend upon the U.S. for our defense-related matters," the ambassador added, according to press reports from Pakistan.

He insisted that Pakistan cannot trust India to keep peace in the region, where the two South Asian rivals have fought three major wars and several lesser conflicts since Pakistan gained its independence from India in 1947.

"We cannot be assured by statements that India will not wage a war against us," he said.

Mr. Haqqani said Pakistan is engaged in talks with the Obama administration to secure a nuclear energy program like the one Mr. Bush signed with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006.

"Talks between Pakistan and the U.S. for cooperation on atomic [energy] programs are under way, and we want the U.S. to have an agreement with us like the one it had with India on civil nuclear technology," Mr. Haqqani said.

On Afghanistan, the ambassador said he has urged U.S. officials to promote friendly relations between Kabul and Islamabad before American troops withdraw from Afghanistan.

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