WASHINGTON: The United States will not sign a nuclear deal with Pakistan when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Washington next week, the White House said.
Sharif would pay a four-day official visit to the United States from October 20 at the invitation of the US President Barack Obama.
Earlier this month, the US daily newspaper ‘Washington Post’ said in its report that the United States is exploring an option that could pave the way for a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan like the one concluded with India in 2005.
However, the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that President Obama is not going to sign a nuclear deal with Sharif but he will discuss the nuclear issue in his meeting with the visiting dignitary.
“A deal like the one that’s been discussed publicly is not something that’s likely to come to fruition next week,” Josh Earnest said in a statement.
“But the United States and Pakistan are regularly engaged in a dialogue about the importance of nuclear security. And I would anticipate that dialogue would include conversations between the leaders of our two countries,” he added.
Sharif is expected to have a meeting with President Obama on October 22.
“During the visit, the Prime Minister will brief the US leadership on Pakistan’s policies for the revival of the economy, fight against terrorism and the regional situation,” the Foreign Office Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at his weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
“Discussions will also be held on bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, defence, counter-terrorism, health and climate change.”
The prime minister during his stay in the US will also meet with Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, have business interaction with Pakistan-US Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce and Industry and deliver a talk at the US Institute of Peace besides interaction with Pakistan community.
On Thursday, the US President Barack Obama also said in a statement that he will be hosting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to the United States next week.
Obama said that he will discuss Afghan situation and host of other issues with the Pakistani premier.
