Pak's 'unnecessary excitement' may delay its 'cherished' goal of French nuclear deal

Islamabad, July 11 (ANI): It is highly unlikely that Pakistan and France would ink a bilateral civil nuclear deal by the end of the year as was being claimed by diplomatic circles here.

According to sources, the 'unnecessary excitement' showed by Pakistani ruling circles regarding the deal may delay country's objective of entering a nuclear deal with France much like the Indo-US nuclear pact.

Furthermore, the delay in appointing an envoy to France could also hinder Pakistan's cherished goal, The Nation reports.

It may be noted that during his visit to France earlier this year, President Zardari hastily claimed that Paris and Islamabad have agreed to enter a deal for peaceful use of nuclear means.owever, France neither denied nor put a stamp on Zardari's claims.

"And it was during the same visit that Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi shared the information on nuclear deal with the media, something that the French authorities believed was unnecessary because of the sensitivities related to the vital issue," a diplomatic source said on conditions of anonymity.

"Contrary to Pakistan's reaction on strong prospects of nuclear deal with France, the French authorities are against creating hype in the media on the important matter," it added.

The Pakistani officials have also announced that French President Nicolas Sarkozy would be visiting the country in December 2009, and is most likely to ink the nuclear pact. (ANI)