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Rejecting India's concerns over the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States, the Pakistan Foreign Office has said that New Delhi should not have any problem with Islamabad's relations with Washington.
Addressing a weekly briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said, "I think India should not have a problem with dialogue because we (Pakistan) don't have concerns over US-India relationship.
"We don't have a problem with the US-India relationship, but we do have serious concern over US-India nuclear deal due to its negative impact over neighbouring countries," he added.
It may be noted that Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had expressed concerns over Pakistan pushing for an India-like civil nuclear deal with the US during their "strategic dialogue".
"I think US would always look into the track record of every country with which they are going for certain understanding or signing a treaty. I am sure that US will constantly remember that proliferation of nuclear weapons was because of certain indiscretions of certain countries and more particularly Pakistan and the clandestine activities which they carried on," Krishna had said.
Describing Krishna's statement as "unfair", Basit said talks between Pakistan and the US dialogue were very broad and concerning various issues such as energy, water , science and technology and other sectors.
He said the Pakistani government is optimistic about a "positive outcome" of deliberations.
"The dialogue was a positive trend and should continue in the future. Pakistan has also proposed that the US play a mediatory role in resolving the water conflict between Pakistan and India," The Daily Times quoted Basit, as saying.