By Xinhua
Canberra : Pakistan has asked Australia to extend its possible uranium deal with India.
Pakistan Minister for Religious Affairs Ejaz ul-Haq said if Australia is considering selling uranium to India, then Pakistan should be offered the same deal, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio reported Friday.
This came after Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Thursday that despite India not having signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, uranium could be sold to power stations open to the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
There are also media reports saying the Australian cabinet will soon consider a submission by Downer which allows the sell of uranium to India.
Ul-Haq said it is a diplomatic issue.
"Pakistan should be considered alongside India when countries who are working in this region, they have to keep the balance of power in this region," he told ABC radio.
"Pakistan's nuclear program is totally peaceful. If we are going to go further into nuclear it is going to be for energy, because we are suffering from power shortages," he said.