US Secretary of State John Kerry. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Signalling a willingness to break the nuclear cooperation deadlock, Water and Power Minister for Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry had suggested that Pakistan and the US consider cooperation in civil nuclear technology to meet Islamabad’s energy needs.
“We have informed the visiting secretary of state that the crippling energy crisis is a bigger threat than the war on terror. Hydel and nuclear energy are on our priority list and we can consider a civil nuclear deal like India,” Asif told a joint press conference with Kerry after holding talks on energy cooperation.
Providing details of his discussions with Kerry, Asif said that the US government asked for possible areas where energy cooperation would be possible, including nuclear energy.
He added that while the government was seeking cooperation in wind, solar, hydel and nuclear energy sectors, the government would hold further detailed discussions on the issue of nuclear cooperation in follow-up meetings.
Referencing the civil nuclear energy deal with India, Asif said that with the energy crisis destroying economic output and fuelling instability, the US should consider giving similar technology to Pakistan.
“The whole world is focusing on the war on terror, which is a local issue for Pakistan, while our biggest threat is the energy crisis which is causing a loss of Rs1,000 billion each year,” said Asif. He said overcoming load-shedding would lead to accelerated economic growth, employment opportunities and would reduce terrorism in the country.
Appreciating the efforts of USAID in improving the energy sector in the country, Asif said that the government had also played its part by clearing the Rs500 billion circular debt, resulting in power production reaching 16,000 megawatts.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the importance of energy was critical to the future of Pakistan. He added that USAID had provided technology to indentify accurate data of power supply, line losses and power theft. “We underscore our vital relations with Pakistan and emphasise the importance of energy is future of Pakistan,” said Kerry, adding that the US Congress had approved over $7 billion aid for Pakistan under Kerry Lugar Bill, which included support for the energy sector.
Kerry added that out of the total aid, the US had so far disbursed $3.5 billion, highlighting that the US government was committed to providing energy to Pakistan.
“Change in power subsidy and efficiency in energy sector are must for improvement in power system and I will go to Washington with increased number of energy projects,” said Kerry.
Highlighting the wide range of economic initiatives being undertaken by the US through its aid program, Kerry said that his government was so far funding projects which will add 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (9)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
This news has oly been reported in Pakistani media. Not one international newspaper including US media outlet has reported this. This makes this news item questionable.
It is about time Pakistan is given its due for its long engagement of helping U.S. Pakistan deserves a civil-nuclear deal. Pakistan has come a long way in developing safety and security mechanisms. Now it needs the nuclear deal to cover its energy requirements. Pakistan's social and economic uplift is dependent on this assistance.
If President Obama continued his unbalanced approach towards Pakistan, he would damage American interests, and the US is likely to face the fate of the former Soviet Union in its worst form. Also Pakistan will be the key player in solving the Afghan issue as we helped to bring Taliban on peace talks table. As we must be given nuclear deal to end our energy crisis just like china helping us because of our good behaviour in nuclear energy.
Contemplating about the future Afghan scenario, Pakistan will be the key player and the U.S. cannot afford to ignore it. It is expected that the U.S. will preserve some presence after NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. If the U.S. does not improve relations with Pakistan, the possibility of stabilizing the region would continue to diminish. A deal in civil nuclear technology will encourage Pakistan to safeguard the U.S. interests and other returns from such a deal are obvious to pick.
To get rid of energy crisis is the dire need of time and US pursual of coming forward to start negotiations over the issue of nuclear deal is a good gesture. Now USA should strike the same deal with Pakistan as it did with India. Many other countries are looking forward to cooperate with Pakistan in the nuclear field keeping in view the safety and security matters of Pakistan and also its compliance with the non proliferation efforts.
For the sake of American Nationals, US needs Pakistan and made it a front line state in launching a Global War on Terror. Otherwise, it is absolutly unthinkable to launch. US has a long history of friends and foes. It is reflected in US foreign policy that it goes for only and only in pursuance of national interests. India should keep this in mind about the inherent vested American interests. With Indo-US nuclear cooperation, there are going to be lots of hands for Pakistan to have nuclear joint ventures. Categorically, Pakistan reflects its intentions to have a similar nuclear deal in order to have good relations with US and maintaing the regional balance.
Of course, we need a nuclear cooperation to get rid of this ongoing energy dilemma. US should come forward and make a similar deal with Pakistan. Pakistan has an equal right to got nuclear upsurge. US should keep this in mind that Pakistan has lots of influential options in the line of nuclear cooperation. Pakistan is a front line state with US and suffered a lot in the name of terrorism. Having nuclear cooperation with historic rival India of Pakistan, is completely misbalancing the situation in the region.
If solving Pakistan's energy crisis is in agenda, Washington owes to have nuclear deal with Pakistan , vibrant relations between Pakistan and US emphasise on the importance of energy need for social and economic development without restriction involve to it.
No nuclear deal with Pakistan whether civil or military. US doesn't trust Pakistan.