Pakistan in ‘French nuclear deal’
France and Pakistan have agreed to co-operate on civilian nuclear power, officials said, with Islamabad calling the move a “significant development”.
But there is confusion over the deal reached by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Pakistani counterpart.
Pakistani officials said Mr Sarkozy had undertaken to supply Pakistan with “civilian nuclear technology”.
But the Elysee Palace said France had agreed only to co-operate in the field of “nuclear safety”.
Mixed messages
Speaking to reporters after talks between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Mr Sarkozy, Pakistan’s foreign minister outlined what he called a “significant development.”
“France has agreed to transfer civilian nuclear technology to Pakistan,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters.
Mr Qureshi said the move was in recognition of the growing “energy crisis” in Pakistan, citing the need for nuclear power to guarantee the country’s electricity supply.
But later a spokesman for the French presidency was careful to rein in expectati