From correspondents in Vienna, Austria, 06:17 PM IST

The US has no intention of pursuing a civil nuclear cooperation initiative with Pakistan similar to the one it is having with India, diplomatic sources here have asserted

Pakistan's public opposition to the safeguards agreement India plans to sign with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) here Friday has led Washington to ask Islamabad not to do so.

But there is no quid pro quo, the diplomats familiar with the situation say, and the US has no intention of pursuing a civil nuclear cooperation initiative with Pakistan.

Western officials here say that India and Pakistan are different countries with different needs and different histories.

Talking to IANS on condition of anonymity, a western diplomat described the relationship between the US and Pakistan as 'different'.

'With Pakistan, America is committed to maintaining close ties and cooperation, including in the war on terror. But Pakistan does not have the same non-proliferation record as India, and Pakistan does not have the same energy needs,' the diplomat said, pleading anonymity.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)