Pak seeks parity in uranium sale from Australia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today said it should be treated at par with India in civil nuclear cooperation and given the same facilities, including uranium sales by Australia, under a "non-discriminatory regime".

"We hope that facilities as available to India will also be made available to Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said during a weekly news briefing.

He was responding to a question about the Pakistan government's stand on Australia's decision to sell uranium to India.

Pakistan has contended that the world community should give it access to civil nuclear technology to overcome a crippling energy crisis ever since the US finalised an atomic pact with India.

Basit said Pakistan had taken up with the Australian government the issue of uranium sales to India.

"As you all know, Pakistan has always tried for a non-discriminatory regime for cooperation in civilian nuclear technology," he said.

He said Pakistan is an energy deficient country whose energy needs have been multiplying.

We, therefore, strongly believe that these non-discriminatory approaches do not help and Pakistan will look forward to benefitting from nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," the spokesman said.

Basit's remarks came hours after Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said during a visit to New Delhi that India represented a "unique" case for uranium sales.