"India-IAEA accord a precedent for Pak for meeting energy needs"

Islamabad, Aug 8 : The IAEA Safeguards Agreement announced for India last week will serve as a precedent for other countries, including Pakistan, to enter into similar agreements to meet their energy needs, Pakistan's foreign office has said.

The IAEA governors had on Friday approved India's draft plan for inspections of its civilian atomic reactors, a precondition for launching a deal to obtain US nuclear fuel and technology.

"The statement of IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei and of other IAEA officials confirm the precedent setting nature of the Indian safeguards agreement, and the agreement could serve as a model for other states, who may wish to conclude similar agreements," the Daily Times quoted Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq as saying.

The spokesman told press persons that Pakistan was interested in seeking international co-operation to access technology for civilian nuclear energy, and that a criteria-based approach would enable Pakistan to access civil nuclear energy under safeguards to meet its growing energy needs.

About Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is facing a trial on terror charges in the US after being arrested in Afghanistan, Sadiq said that Pakistan had asked for consular access and medical assistance to Dr Siddiqui. "The consular access will be granted at the earliest," he said, adding the government was committed to bringing back all Pakistani detainees, including Dr Aafia.

He said the US authorities informed Pakistan about Dr Siddiqui's custody on July 17, and she was transferred to the US on August 3. "I do not know if Dr Aafia Siddiqui was kept at Bagram. On our approach we were assured by the US that she was not in Bagram. Bagram, as you know, is a US army facility," he said and added that the government was still unaware of where her children were.

ANI