By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The United States has said that it looks forward to the implementation of its civil nuclear deal with India, describing it as “very good for nuclear non-proliferation efforts around the world.”
“This agreement with India is, as we’ve said previously, very good for nuclear non-proliferation efforts around the world,” State Department spokesman Robert A. Wood told reporters Monday.
“And we’re very pleased that this agreement was, you know, finalised. It’s now in fruition. We look forward to the implementation,” he said.
Commenting on reports that Pakistan has secured China’s help to build two new nuclear-power reactors following US refusal to enter into an India like deal with Islamabad, the spokesman said Washington discussed non-proliferation issues with both countries, but would not go into details.
“We obviously discuss non-proliferation issues with both Pakistan and China. But I’m not going to get into the substance of conversations we may have had with either country,” he said.
Asked to comment on Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s allegation that Pakistan had misused US aid for preparing for war against India, Wood said Washington expected Islamabad to use its assistance for the provided purpose.
“I don’t know the specific – I can’t answer your question specifically,” he said. “But in general, obviously, our support to Pakistan is very clear, and that we expect that any assistance that we provide Pakistan would be used for those things that we are providing them for.”
“In many cases, you will have situations where funds are not immediately accounted for. But, you know, we work very closely with Pakistan to make sure that our assistance is spent wisely and for those things that they’re supposed to be spent for,” the spokesman said.
“And the Pakistanis basically understand that point and work with us and have said to us over and again that they will investigate any misuse of funds or malfeasance that may come about.”
In reply to another question about Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher’s visit to Pakistan, he said the US official had talked about “counter-terrorism, the situation in the tribal areas, Pakistan’s economic situation, and how we can provide support to Pakistan as it goes through these difficult times.”
Asked if the US was prepared to try to help Pakistan with direct assistance, Wood said: We obviously will try to see what we can do to help Pakistan get through its financial crisis. But I’m not prepared to lay out specifics of what we may or may not do.”
The spokesman declined to say whether the US was willing to support Pakistan regardless of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
“But obviously, the situation there is of great concern, not just to us, but obviously to the Pakistanis. And so we will look at ways we can try to help Pakistan, you know, get through this crisis,” he added.