Indo-US nuke deal unique, could not be replicated with Pak: US

Washington, Oct 18 (PTI) Terming the Indo-U.S.
civilian nuclear deal as "unique to India and not a model to
replicate", a senior Bush administration official said the
United States is committed to cooperate with Pakistan in
enhancing its energy needs but "a civilian nuclear deal with
it was not on the table".

"We are absolutely committed to working with Pakistan
on its energy needs. And during the strategic partnership
meeting we had with the Foreign Minister and others who were
here, we talked about Pakistan's energy needs. We talked about
how to improve the cooperation," Assistant Secretary of State
for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher said
during a Roundtable on Pakistan recently, the transcript of
which was just released by the States Department.

Pakistan's energy problems are also balanced by its
energy potential -- a lot of that is in coal; a lot of it is
in hydro power, in some of the mountainous areas of the
country; a lot of it is in alternate energy wind farms and
other things down by the Macram coast, he added.

"So we are going to help Pakistan, work with it on its
energy potential which has a uniquely Pakistani character. We
really need to reinforce our efforts and Pakistan side want us
to do more. We would try to step up our cooperation," he said.

When asked about "nuclear cooperation" with Pakistan,
Boucher said the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal was India-
specific and should not be seen as some kind of a model that
could be replicated elsewhere.

"It is just not on the table. The agreement we have
with India is unique to India, not a model for anything else,"
he said, adding when a kid turns on the light bulb to do his
homework he does not really care if the light comes from
coal, hydro, nuclear or whatever. He cares that the light bulb
goes on.