US to convince Pakistan not to vote against India at IAEA

The United States will convince Pakistan not to vote against the India-specific safeguards agreement when the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets in Vienna, Austria, later this month or early next month to give its approval to it, said US Ambassador to India, David C Mulford.

Conveying this message through a phone with select media at the American Centre here from Washington, Ambassador Mulford said he was well aware of Islamabad’s reservations on the pact and on the US-India civil nuclear co-operation agreement, and expressed conviction about the Bush Administration’s ability to “persuade” Pakistan to cooperate on the matter.

“We will address Pakistan’s role at the IAEA,” he said. He said that the US is keen to present the bilateral legislation before the US Congress in the early part of September, following a meeting of the IAEA and two meetings of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (IAEA).