Reports of nuclear talks precede Army chief’s visit

WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s nuclear programme is once again the focus of discussions in the US capital as Army Chief Raheel Sharif prepares to visit Washington next week.Reports in the US media,and by think tanks, however, suggest that both sides have already taken clear positions on this issue.The Americans want Pakistan to stop makingtactical weapons, halt the development of long-range missiles andsign the nuclear test bantreaty.Pakistanis link their nuclear programme to the security threat they face from India, want the Americans to sign a civil nuclear deal with Islamabad and help it join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).