Islamabad, March 21, SPA -- Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington General (retd) Jehangir Karamat has expressed the hope that the U.S. policy in South Asia "will not be based on transitory and evolving trends, but on relationships that are maturing in these fluid situations."In a statement, he said "this is not the time for an imbalance" in the South Asian region," and pleaded that "there should be a package for both countries and not country-specific deals on a subject as critical as nuclear technology." Karamat referred to the American policy of de-hyphenation, but added "this should not be leaning so heavily on one side." In a recent statement, the Pakistan Foreign Office sounded caution that grant of waiver by the U.S. to India in the context of civil nuclear cooperation would have serious implications for security environment of South Asia as well as non-proliferation efforts; and that minimum credible deterrence is imperative to avoid an arms race and instability. "The recent Foreign Office statement is really a clarification of what we have been saying all along; that in the interest of balance of power in the South Asian region, there should be a package for both countries and not country-specific deals on a subject, as critical as nuclear technology," the diplomat said. He said Pakistan understands and appreciates "the underpinnings" of the U.S.' de-hyphenated policy in South Asia, "but this should not be leaning so heavily on one side." Karamat said President General Pervez Musharraf has stated that "our security policy is no longer India-centric. The President has also emphasized minimum deterrence as a pillar of our policy, and has said, that we do not want an arms race in India." "Earlier, we had tabled 'Reciprocal Restraint' as a concept which could be bilaterally discussed. We hope, U.S. policy will take these aspects into consideration," the ambassador said. He added that Pakistan, is of course, committed to democracy but, its policies are supporting the development of the political, social and economic institutions. "The military will take its rightful place, once this process is complete because right now, it is the major driver for institutional development. We cannot have internal chaos, and we need U.S. policy to help and support us in this process. This is not the time for an imbalance in the region." The ambassador said that the Pakistani Foreign Minister's comment about other countries "was only in the context of precedents being set and should not be misunderstood in any other context."--SPA 14 05 Local Time 11 05 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/347292