WASHINGTON, Oct 3: The Bush administration, like the government in India, is celebrating the signing of the US-India nuclear deal but is unlikely to offer a similar arrangement to Pakistan.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is scheduled to formally sign the deal at a ceremony in New Delhi during the weekend, presided over a special meeting in Washington on Thursday to thank those State Department employees who worked hard to make this happen.

At the White House, President George W. Bush thanked US legislators for approving the agreement he sees as the only success of his eight-year reign.

“This legislation will strength our global nuclear non-proliferation efforts, protect the environment, create jobs and assist India in meeting its growing needs in a responsible manner,” he said.

Both Republican and Democratic politicians in the US believe the deal would lead to a strategic partnership with India.

Meanwhile, US officials and Pakistani diplomats, when contacted by Dawn, said they did not see the United States offering a similar agreement to Pakistan.

“No, it is India-specific,” said a US official who did not want to be identified. “I don’t see a deal like this being offered to Pakistan.”

But immediately after the US Senate approved the deal, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani demanded parity.

And at least one commentator, Jonathan Landay, a senior US journalist, supported him. Mr Landay told a meeting in Washington that the United States should keep the door open for Pakistan as well.

“Not immediately but in 5 years, 10 years, Pakistan should be offered a similar deal.” He urged the United States to start the process of accommodating Pakistan by demanding that Islamabad took certain steps to improve its proliferation record, such as offering access to Dr A. Q. Khan. Once Pakistan met those requirements, it should also be considered for a nuclear deal with the United States, he said.

And at least one lawmaker, Congressman Ed Markey warned that Pakistan would seek a similar agreement with China and it would be difficult for the United States to prevent China from accommodating Pakistan after signing a deal with India.

“Non-proliferation advocates must now be on alert. Now that the nuclear rules have been broken for India’s sake, Iran, Pakistan and North Korea will be looking for a way to similarly game the system,” he warned.

“The spread of the atom bomb must be stopped at all costs, and I will not stop working to safeguard the United States from the scourge of nuclear weapons.”

Other critics of the India deal pointed out that Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in 1998 in a tit-for-tat response to India and it had not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, India also had refused to do so.

They acknowledged that Pakistan failed to prevent proliferation but argued that by further isolating Pakistan, the United States would push the country to secretly enhance its nuclear capabilities, as it did in the past.

The India deal has taken three tortuous years to clinch but has brought India close to be recognised as a nuclear power.