Islamabad has asked Washington D.C. for access to peaceful nuclear technology during talks held under the Pak-US Strategic Dialogue.
US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry co-chaired the 7th round of the US-Pakistan Security, Strategic Stability, and Non-proliferation (SSS&NP) Working Group.
A statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office said that the country had stressed the need for access to peaceful nuclear technology as a socioeconomic imperative, the Express Tribune reported.
Though there was no mention if the US gave any positive response to Islamabad's request, the statement did say that Washington had expressed full confidence in Pakistan's indigenous efforts to strengthen nuclear security welcoming Pakistan's efforts to strengthen export controls and border security, including through ongoing efforts for installation of radiation portal monitors at border crossings as well as the Islamic Republic's hosting of International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) training activities at its Nuclear Security Centre of Excellence.
The US also welcomed Pakistan's efforts to harmonise its strategic trade controls with those of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other multilateral export control regimes.