No nuke deal with Pak, asserts US

■ Act against all terror groups, US tells Sharif ● Pak PM Nawaz Sharif warned that Pakistan will have to take ‘ credible deterrent’ measures in the face of an Indian ‘ arms buildup’ and ‘ dangerous military doctrines’

The US has made it clear to Pakistan that it must take action against all terror groups without discriminating and also firmly ruled out any role for itself in Indo- Pak peace process unless both the countries jointly ask for it.

The assertion by the US came after President Barack Obama held wideranging talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday even as it “categorically ruled out” any kind of negotiations with Islamabad on an Indiatype civil nuclear deal, terming the reports in American media “completely false”.

“We have been very clear with the Pakistani government that in implementing that commitment, Pakistan must take action against all militant groups without discriminating,” White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said after the talks, welcoming Pakistan’s commitment as part of the national action plan not to discriminate amongst terrorist groups.

In a joint statement issued by the two leaders after their talks at the White Office’s Oval Office, Mr Sharif apprised Obama about Pakistan’s resolve to take “effective action” against UN- designated ter- rorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar- eTayyaba ( LeT) and its affiliates, as per its international commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.

After the more than 90minute meeting, Mr Sharif said his government is committed to take action against terrorists.

“We know what is in our national interest,” he told reporters when asked if he would fulfil his commitment to take action against Pakistan- based LeT.

“It’s our national responsibility to take action against all elements of terrorism. This is part of our National Action Plan,” he said.

Mr Sharif, meanwhile, kept up his attack on India and warned that Pakistan will have to take “credible deterrent” measures in the face of an Indian “arms build- up” and “dangerous military doctrines”.

“While refusing dialogue, India is engaged in a major arms build- up, regrettably with the active assistance of several powers. It has adopted dangerous military doctrines. This will compel Pakistan to take several counter measures to preserve credible deterrence,” Mr Sharif said in his address to the US Institute of Peace ( USIP), a US Congress top American think- tank.

Mr Sharif claimed that after coming to power twoand- a- half years ago, he has made several “sincere efforts” to improve relationship with India.

“I accepted his ( Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s) invitation to attend his swearing- in ceremony New Delhi,” he said.

Earlier, describing Kashmir as “a flashpoint” between India and Pakistan, Mr Sharif said there is a need for a thirdparty mediation to resolve the issue and end stalemate in the Indo- Pak dialogue process.

“( Currently) there are no bilateral talks ( between India and Pakistan) on resolving the Kashmir issue. In that scenario there should be a third- party meditation on this. If India does not accept a thirdparty role, if there are no bilateral talks, then there is a stalemate,” Mr Sharif said. “This stalemate needs to be addressed,” he said.