Pakistan: No US deal to curb nuclear activity

As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday left for a major visit to the US, Pakistan dismissed reports that America is negotiating a deal on limiting its nuclear and missile programmes.

Mr Sharif is visiting Washington at the invitation of President Barack Obama. The visit came under the scanner after a report in the Washington Post on October 6 said that the US was trying for a deal to put limits on Pakistan’s nuclear programme and its delivery systems.

Foreign office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah rejected the reports by saying that “no deal” is being discussed between the two countries.

“US has not made any demand from Pakistan,” he said.

“In any case, history is a testimony to the fact that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepts no demand from any state. He firmly believes in policies directed at preserving, protecting and promoting Pakistan’s national interests,” he said.

He said that the Prime Minister during the visit will hold discussions on wide-ranging areas of bilateral interest with Mr Obama, US vice-president Joe Biden and others.

“In these meetings, the two sides are expected to review the current state of the Pakistan-US relations and identify new areas for future bilateral cooperation to further expand and enrich the canvas of this partnership,” he said.

In addition to the above meetings, Mr Sharif will interact with members of the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

Senior US government officials will also call on the Prime Minister. He will attend a business event organised by the US-Pakistan Business Council in Washington D.C. and address the United States Institute of Peace.

Interactions with US media representatives and the Pakistani-American community are also part of the programme.

“In recent bilateral interactions at high-level, it has been agreed to broaden the conversation between Pakistan and the US and convert this partnership into a multi-dimensional mode,” he said.

[Our correspondent from Pakistan reports that Mr Sharif said the country’snuclear assets were safe under a foolproof arrangement.

“Pakistan’s nuclear status is a deterrence against any external aggression,” the Prime Minister said in a statement prior to his departure to the US.

Mr Sharif said Pakistan honours the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in terms of bilateral and multilateral relations as equal sovereign partners.

“Being a sovereign country with a strong democratic dispensation, Pakistan has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the war on terror as a front-line state,” the Premier said. Even now, he said, operation Zarb-e-Azb’s success is a manifestation of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to root out terrorism and extremism from each and every nook and corner of the country.

“We are fighting this war to not only ensure the peace and prosperity of our country alone but also to make South Asia, and the region beyond a hub of peace and development,” he said.]