'Indo-US N-deal is a bilateral arrangement'

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the recent Indo-US nuclear deal was a bilateral arrangement but emphasised that Islamabad should be treated on an equal basis for maintaining geo-strategic balance in the region.

APP quoted him as saying in an interview with China Central Television that Pakistan dealt with the United States bilaterally in accordance with its own interests.

• US Vice-President to lobby for N-deal

As far as US relationship with India was concerned, he said, "Pakistan wants that it should be treated at par with India as far as strategic capabilities are concerned."  President Musharraf observed that India and US have their own bilateral interests and Pakistan's relationship with the United States is totally different from that of Indo-US relations.

Replying to a question, President Musharraf said that the India-Pakistan composite dialogue was moving ahead on a right track, but not at the pace he was expecting. He underscored that the dialogue needed to focus on resolving the 'core issue of Kashmir.' Conflict resolution is all the more important for bringing normalcy in bilateral relations, he added.

• 'India, US must overcome mutual suspicions'

He believed that the existing congenial environment provided a unique opportunity for the two countries to work for a solution of the Kashmir issue for securing a lasting peace in South Asia.

In separate interviews with Phoenix TV, Dragon TV Shanghai and China Radio International, President Musharraf advocated Pakistan's desire to attain full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

"We are confident that our association with this important regional organisation will contribute significantly to the implementation of the SCO charter that is meant to promote peace, security and development, particularly in the Asian region," he said, pointing out that Pakistan's geo-strategic location made it eminently suitable for development of inter-regional cooperation.

Meanwhile, speaking on the China-Pakistan strategic partnership, President Musharraf said the time-tested and evergreen relationship between the two countries was being translated into economic gains.
Answering another question about Pakistan's fight against terrorism, he said peace could only be achieved by addressing political disputes, which are the root causes of various problems.

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