WASHINGTON: The two-day strategic dialogue between the United States and Pakistan has opened up new possibilities for further talks on a range of issues — from a nuclear deal to Islamabad’s role in the Afghan reconciliation process.

But there was silence on Pakistan’s “most heavily advertised” proposal: a civil nuclear agreement similar to the one the Bush administration signed with India. The silence also underlined the need for further talks on this issue.

During the talks that ended on Thursday, the two sides also discussed a possible role for Pakistan in the Afghan reconciliation process. US officials were particularly interested in knowing Gen Kayani’s views on this issue as they believed that he was “critical to determining the role Pakistan will play”.

Three tangible results include: $125 million for energy development, $51 million for upgrading three thermal plants and $40 million for the construction of priority roads in the NWFP.

All of these come from last year’s $7.5 billion aid to Pakistan legislation known as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill and some were already announced during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan in October.

Pakistani diplomatic sources confirmed to Dawn a US media report that the Obama administration also had agreed to expedite the delivery of F-16 fighter jets, naval frigates and helicopter gunships, as well as new remotely piloted aircraft for surveillance missions.

The United States, however, made some significant pledges too. These include improved market access for Pakistani goods, the creation of special economic zones, known as ROZs, along the Pak-Afghan border and a Bilateral Investment Treaty to stimulate investment in Pakistan.

The dialogue, however, also had some impressive optics: sitting side by side at the State Department, instead of confronting each other, a visit to the White House, an audience with Vice President Joe Biden, although he had no separate meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and lots of smiles and warm handshakes.

Nuclear Issue

Mr Qureshi, however, told journalists on Thursday that his delegation had “very satisfactory” talks with the Americans on civilian nuclear cooperation and that the A. Q. Khan issue was “behind us”.

Diplomatic sources also confirmed the foreign minister’s claim, but added that the Americans did not want to discuss this issue publicly and had also advised Pakistan to remain silent.

The New York Times on Friday interpreted this meaningful silence as indicating that there would be more talks on this issue.

“Given Pakistan’s history of selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, such an agreement would realistically be 10 or 15 years away,” a senior Obama administration official told the Times.

“Still, the administration was careful not to dismiss the idea out of hand,” the Times observed.

The Indian media — perhaps more concerned than the Pakistanis about the proposed nuclear deal — also noted that the Americans had not “said a no” to Pakistan’s request. “Instead they asked them to initiate steps that would restore the confidence of the international community in its nuclear programme.”

Quoting their own sources in Washington, the Indian media reported that Pakistan had apparently assured the Americans that it was willing to initiate the steps they had suggested.

The Americans told the Pakistanis that “they would closely monitor the developments” before considering the Pakistani request.

Topping the list is the complete disbanding of the Khan network, so that the US is convinced that it would not re-emerge.

The suggested steps also require international monitoring/inspection of Pakistan’s nuclear facilities.

The joint statement issued after the talks, however, stressed a mutual desire to reinforce strategic ties.

Both agreed to “redouble their efforts to deal effectively with terrorism” and would work together for “peace and stability in Afghanistan”.

The New York Times noted that the term “strategic dialogue” was by itself meant to send a message: “The administration used the term reserved for the substantive, wide-ranging exchanges it carries on with important countries like China and India. Pakistan and the United States held three such dialogues during the Bush administration,” the newspaper observed.

The Washington Post said the Obama administration’s primary goals for the gathering were to create a new level of bonding between the two countries and to win increased Pakistani cooperation in the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. US officials, aware of Pakistan’s often-prickly response to perceived slights, were deferential to the Pakistanis and offered fulsome praise, the Post observed.

According to the Post, Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was clearly the star of Pakistan’s delegation, if not its official leader.

“At a Tuesday evening reception at the Pakistani Embassy, Gen Kayani’s entry brought a hush to the crowd and the appearance of dozens of cellphone cameras, wielded by Pakistanis and Americans alike,” it reported.

The Washington Times said: “Washington’s long-time suspicion and mistrust of Pakistan and questions about its commitment to fighting extremists have vanished, and the Obama administration has agreed to fast-track Islamabad’s pending requests for military equipment.”

Bruce Riedel, a Pakistan expert at Washington’s Brookings Institution agreed with Gen Kayani that the military’s campaign in the Swat Valley and South Waziristan had improved the tenor of Islamabad’s relationship with Washington. But the success has also raised America’s expectations, he warned.

“Yes, you get a pat on the back,” Mr Riedel told NYT. “But now that you’ve shown you can do something, you’ve got to do more.”