US Negative Approach Toward Pakistan Plans

Pakistan has been nursing an aspiration since long that the United States should reach a civilian nuclear agreement with it on the lines of India. For the fulfillment of this desire it has been repeatedly urging the US leadership.

Yet, its endeavors proved futile once again when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told in no uncertain terms to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi that there was no question of signing a civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan. He is currently holding talks at the high strategic level with Hillary Clinton. On this occasion, she categorically stated that the United States has no intention to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Nuclear Military Treaty
The United States has been extending all support to Pakistan, yet it is unwilling to cooperate with Pakistan on the issue of a new military nuclear treaty with Pakistan because Pakistan has failed to build an image of a responsible nation on the nuclear support issue at the international level. Its nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan did not behave with a sense of responsibility. A charge is leveled against him that he passed on nuclear know-how to North Korea and Iran. That is why these countries also are in the process of manufacturing nuclear weapons. There are also alleged reports that nuclear weapons have found their way in the hands of militants.

Meanwhile, India has fully fulfilled its obligations in respect of the nuclear issue. The country has lived up to the world expectations. That is why the world's superpower, the United States, has inked a nuclear deal with India. After the India-US nuclear agreement other countries have also reached such deals with India. Pakistan, on the other hand has failed to build an image of a responsible country. Pakistan has earned a bad name on the issue of terrorism all across the world. By signing a nuclear military treaty with Pakistan, the United States does not want to be entrapped in a fresh controversy. Hence, India should welcome the US clarification on the nuclear treaty with Pakistan.

Kashmir Issue
The US stand on the Kashmir issue also can be termed positive from the Indian viewpoint. The United States never gave an occasion to India to interfere in the bilateral issues with Pakistan when India did not have a high stature at the international level as it is at present. Today, India is considered a major power at the global level.

In the present international scenario, the United States does not desire to spoil its good image by interfering in the Kashmir issue. Hence, it can be commented that the United States, by adopting a highly balanced approach, has conveyed to Pakistan that it should make some demand from the United States only by restraining itself within a certain limit.