Pakistan should have the same access to United States civilian nuclear technology that President George W Bush [Images] has proposed for India, according to Jehangir Karamat, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.

Karamat, Pakistan's former army chief, also warned that "the balance of power in South Asia should not become so tilted in India's favour, as a result of the US relationship with India, that Pakistan had to start taking extraordinary measures to ensure a capability for deterrence and defense."

'US aware of Pak's defence needs'

"Whatever legislation is made shouldn't be a specific, one-time affair just for India," Karamat told Associated Press, "but should leave the door open for other countries that meet the same criteria and show good responsibility and satisfy the US concerns."

Critics, however, contend that Pakistan's is a different case from India's. A Q Khan, a national hero known as the father of Pakistan's bomb, ran a network smuggling nuclear weapons technology.

Pak allowed China examine US jet

Karamat said Pakistan officials have yet to approach the Bush administration about civilian nuclear energy cooperation, but Pakistan plans eventually to take up the subject.

He mentioned the strong military ties between the 2 countries, which included US training Pakistani soldiers and selling weapons to Pakistan.

Pakistan has requested between 75 and 100 US F-16 fighter aircraft, Karamat said, although the 2 sides have not yet settled the specific number or cost.

'A Q Khan transferred centrifuges to N Korea'