No India like civil nuclear deal with Pakistan 'immediately': Clinton

Washington, Mar.24 (ANI): US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hinted that Washington would not be offering any 'immediate' India like civil nuclear deal to Pakistan, saying the deal with New Delhi was made possible after years of deliberations.

In an interview with a Pakistani television channel, Clinton said she would not prejudge the outcome of Wednesday's (March 24) talks with Pakistan, adding: "I can't speak for anyone else's impressions."

Referring to the nuclear deal with India, Clinton said : "That was the result of many, many years of strategic dialogue. It did not happen easily or quickly."

She said that the US would 'go deep into' all issues which would be raised by Pakistan during the first ministerial-level strategic talks between the two countries.

"I am sure that that's going to be raised and we're going to be considering it.I can't prejudge or pre-empt what the outcome of our discussions will be, except to say that this strategic dialogue is at the highest level we've ever had between our two countries. We are very committed to it," Clinton said.

Clinton was reminded that since Pakistan was reeling severe power crisis, nuclear power plants would be of great help, to which she replied that there were other specific measures that Islamabad must take to address the issue, and meet its energy needs.

"And I think on the energy issue specifically, there are more immediate steps that can be taken that have to help with the grid, have to help with other sources of energy, to upgrade power plants and the like," The Dawn quoted Clinton, as saying.

"And we are certainly looking at those and we want to help Pakistan with its immediate and its long-term energy needs," she added.

Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who would be representing his country during Wednesday's (March 24) talks, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other members of the Pakistani delegation held a series of meeting with US officials.

"Our talks were frank and candid. We conveyed Pakistan's plans and priorities and expressed our hope that the strategic dialogue will lead to a qualitative difference in the relationship between akistan and the US," Qureshi told reporters after holding a long meeting with influential Senator John Kerry, Congressman Howard Berman and members of their committees that deal with foreign affairs. (ANI)