From correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan, 06:30 PM IST

Islamabad - Pakistan Wednesday criticised the India-US nuclear agreement as 'discriminatory', and said it will get civil nuclear technology from different countries to meet its energy requirements, Online news agency reported.

The Indo-US deal on civil nuclear technology would destabilise the region, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said.

'Pakistan will not tolerate the discriminatory attitude,' he warned, adding, Pakistan would sign deals with different countries on civil nuclear technology.

'We have considered different options regarding civil nuclear technology and we are also in contact with nuclear supplier groups,' he added.

Kasuri was briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs at the parliament house here.

He also informed the committee, chaired by Farooq Sattar, about US President George W. Bush's Pakistan visit, as well as Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan and African countries.

He termed Bush's visit as successful. He said Pakistan enjoyed good ties with the US in all sectors including defence, trade and military.

Kasuri, however, added that Pakistan was not supporting the US in any matter 'blindly'. 'Our foreign policy is free and we have taken important decisions in the national interest instead of bowing to anyone's pressure,' he said.

Kasuri expressed his dissatisfaction with the ongoing India-Pakistan peace talks. He said that resolution of the Kashmir issue was essential for ties with India. 'We want the talks not only to be expedited but also to be result-oriented,' he noted.

While Pakistan wanted good relations with Afghanistan, the negative statements from the Afghan authorities over elimination of terrorism could deteriorate the situation further, Kasuri said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)