Bush cool to Pakistan

The subject came up in private talks between Bush and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The pact, announced on Thursday, marks a major breakthrough for New Delhi, long treated as a nuclear pariah by the world, as it allows it to access American atomic technology and fuel to meet its soaring energy needs. The deal still needs approval by the US Congress.

Asked at a joint news conference if Pakistan, India's nuclear rival, would get a similar deal, Bush was ambiguous. Other US officials have said it would not happen.

Bush said he and Musharraf discussed it and "I explained that Pakistan and India are different countries with different needs and different histories" and these differences would be taken into account as the strategy moved forward.

Bush said he recognised Pakistan had growing energy needs. Asked if the United States would oppose a natural gas pipeline to Iran, Bush did not say no.