Gilani expects India-like N-deal from US

{image-Yousaf Raza Gilani_31072008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Washington, Jul 31: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, on a US visit, has said that he also expected an India-like civil nuclear deal from the US, and added that Washington should not discriminate between the two South Asian nations.

"There should be no discrimination. If they want to give such nuclear status to India, we expect the same for Pakistan," Gilani reportedly said while talking with Richard N. Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, at a meeting jointly organised with the Middle East Institute. On the occasion, Gilani spoke at length on a variety of issues, including terrorism and extremism, Pak-US relations, the economy and the scope of democracy in the country. According to the Daily Times, the prime minister said that the government wanted to have cordial relations with all its neighbours, including India and Afghanistan, considering it a guarantee to regional peace.

"With India, we want to resolve all issues including the core issue of Kashmir," he said when asked about the relationship with its eastern neighbour. He added that Pakistan had good trade ties with India.

ANI