November 21, 2006	Tuesday	Shawwal 28, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: Pakistan on Monday declared it would continue to seek international cooperation for civilian nuclear technology to meet its growing energy needs.

“Nuclear energy is part of our national energy security plan and we intend to meet our requirement. We will continue to seek cooperation in this sector from various countries, including the US,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said at a weekly briefing.

She was responding to a question about US Under-secretary of State Nicholas Burns’ statement that the US would not enter into a nuclear deal similar to its agreement with India with any other country, including Pakistan.

Answering a question about the call by some members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group that Pakistan should sign IAEA’s additional protocol, the spokesperson said that no decision had been taken on the matter yet and added: “Pakistan is not a member of NPT and it is a nuclear power and these facts would have to be taken into account in any discussions on the additional protocol.”

Rejecting allegations of cross-border infiltration from Pakistani side to Afghanistan as baseless, she said Pakistan had repeatedly emphasised to the Afghan government as well as to the international community the need for early repatriation of the three million Afghan refugees to ensure tighter border controls.

She called for creating favourable conditions in Afghanistan to facilitate return of refugees.

“The international community must encourage national reconciliation inside Afghanistan,” she emphasised.

Ms Aslam rubbished accusations about Pakistan sponsoring the Taliban in Afghanistan and creating difficulties for Indians working there. She pointed out that the Afghan government had even rejected Pakistan’s proposals of selective de-mining and fencing of the border.

Referring to US Centcom chief’s warning about a third World War, she said: “Everyone accepts there are challenges but I would not say (these are) because of so-called Islamic extremism or fanaticism. There is fanaticism in every religion…Paradoxically no religion promotes or advocates extremism or intolerance and essentially the message of every religion is of peace.”