WASHINGTON, Feb 22: The US administration should seek a stronger adherence from Pakistan to nuclear non-proliferation as a price for obtaining high-valued military equipment from Washington, says a recent report by the Congressional Research Service.

The CRS, which advises Congress and writes policy briefs for US lawmakers, says that weapon systems that are not directly related to counter-terrorism cooperation should only be given to Pakistan if it agrees with US non-proliferation objectives.

Such weapons include F-16 aircraft, anti-tank weapons, and other defence systems that Pakistan is seeking to offset Indian capabilities. This option could require Pakistan's agreement to full cooperation on the Khan network, absolute commitment on no future transfers of nuclear or missile technology, and no new nuclear tests and restraint on nuclear and missile competition with India.

As an incentive, the US administration should also offer Pakistan longe-term waiver of US nuclear and missile proliferation sanctions beyond the current year-to-year extensions in appropriations bills, the CRS says.

"A key rationale for this option is that providing Pakistan with such high-value weapons systems is only warranted if the benefits exceed the cost," the report says.

"In this case, the cost to the United States is not just the dollar value of the weapons systems but also the inevitable complications for relations with India, a country with which the United States also has developed a de facto strategic relationship." The CRS, however, acknowledges that the need for Pakistan's cooperation in the war against terror constraints US efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation.

A potentially significant problem with the approach of seeking Pakistan's cooperation in return for high valued military hardware is that so long as a Pakistani ruler perceives that the Bush administration needs him more than he needs the United States, Pakistan is in a position to turn the tables on US policymakers.

"That is, instead of treating the F-16s or other weapons systems as a 'carrot,' to be earned by additional cooperation, Pakistan could reduce or limit its cooperation on terrorism as a lever to get the United States to agree to allow the purchase of the aircraft and other desired hardware," the CRS warns.

The report notes that early this year, the Bush administration notified Congress of its intention to go ahead with a number of major weapons sales to Pakistan, but not the F-16s.

"Although trying to use the sale of F-16s to Pakistan as leverage for more cooperation regarding the Khan network might be risky, President Musharraf's domestic political vulnerabilities might give the US the upper hand in any test of wills," the CRS notes.

"In any event, withholding approval of the sale of the F-16s until Pakistan provides better cooperation on the Khan network may be the least risky of various options to pressure Pakistan to be more responsive to US nuclear proliferation concerns."