US, Pakistan launch strategic dialogue

While the US side stressed the need for punitive action against Iran for defying the UN Security Council with its nuclear activities, the Pakistani side declined to endorse sanctions and stressed Iran's importance as a neighbour.

The talks were conducted by US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Raiz Khan to implement a commitment made when President George W. Bush visited Islamabad last March.

Burns told a news conference with his counterpart that since the Sept. 11 attacks, Pakistan had become "a critical ally of the United States with which we wish to establish a stable long-term relationship."

The discussions focused on bilateral concerns such as stability in South Asia, broader regional issues like Iran, counterterrorism cooperation, trade, education and efforts to develop Afghanistan-Pakistan tribal border regions where al-Qaeda and other militants live.

They took place a day before Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is expected to tell the UN Security Council and the agency's board that Iran has not stopped purifying uranium or fully answered IAEA queries from a month ago.

Burns said Washington hoped for Pakistan's support in the Iran crisis. Although he did not specify what Islamabad should do, Burns said Iran had defied UN demands, which required a "significant international response."

Asked if Pakistan backed sanctions on Iran, Khan said his country was not on the Security Council and so "will not be engaged in any discussion" on the issue.

Pakistan is concerned about Iran but opposes the use of force to keep it from developing nuclear weapons and does not support efforts to change Iran's government, Khan said.

"We want a friendly Iran. Iran is a very important neighbour of Pakistan," Khan said.

The issue is sensitive for Pakistan, which like its South Asian rival, India, developed nuclear weapons in defiance of international opinion.

Iran says its nuclear activity aims solely to generate electricity. The United States says it is a clandestine effort to make atomic bombs.