New Delhi/ Washington: Pakistan has asked America to play a direct role in reviving talks with India and give it a nuclear deal similar to the one it awarded New Delhi.
CNN-IBN learns the demands were listed in a 56-page document handed over to US officials in Washington. The document hints for the first time at aligning Pakistani policy with that of the US. Among other demands in the document, Pakistan wants greater cooperation with US intelligence agencies
It wants access to advanced US military hardware, including drone technology, and recognition of Pakistan's nuclear weapons status
The Pentagon has confirmed receiving the document, but sources tell CNN-IBN indicate that US is unlikely to agree to push India for talks with Pakistan. A nuclear deal for Pakistan is also unlikely.
The sources say the US maybe prepared to transfer some surveillance drones to Pakistan but it would also want expansion of the US counter-terrorism role in that country.
IANS reports US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Monday met Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the Pentagon "to discuss the continuing conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan," as the defence department put it in a photo caption.
No other details were released of the meeting joined by only chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen and Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Michele Flournoy.
But before the meeting with Kayani, Gates told reporters the Obama administration is looking to establish a long-term security relationship with Islamabad and help it in dealing with security challenges faced by both countries.
"I would say that what we are interested in is looking at the long term in the relationship between the United States and Pakistan, how we can strengthen our relationship and how we can help Pakistan in dealing with the security challenges that face them but also face us and NATO as well," he said.
Kayani is visiting America at the special invitation of US Central Command head, General David Petraeus to participate in a Pakistan-US strategic dialogue scheduled for March 24.
A high-level Pakistani delegation is also in Washington. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, advisor to the prime minister on finance Hafeez Sheikh, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Defence Secretary Athar Ali.
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