WASHINGTON - The United States Friday defended its decision to invite Pakistan, a "major source" of nuclear proliferation in the past, to next week's U.S.-sponsored nuclear security summit, saying its wants Islamabad to be part of the solution.
Questioned about the rationale for inviting 'proliferator' Pakistan, the State Department told a news briefing, "We want to see Pakistan be part of the solution in the future. It has been part of the problem in the past. Pakistan has been a source of proliferation, and at various times in the past we have taken specific steps against Pakistan as a result."
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P. J. Crowley reporters that Pakistan has now demonstrated its ability to protect its atomic programme and he drew attention to Islamabad's cooperation in shutting down the A. Q. Khan network coupled with the safeguards put in place for its strategic assets.
"It (Pakistan) has demonstrated that it can secure its own nuclear weapons programme, and we have confidence in the steps that Pakistan has taken," he said.
"We still have questions about that and we still pursue those with Pakistan," Crowley said in response to a question. "You're quite right, Pakistan has been a source of concern in the past and we have had significant discussions with Pakistan on these issues.