The United States has expressed unwarranted concerns over the emerging civil nuclear cooperation between China and Pakistan. The American fears are baseless considering the fact that peaceful nuclear facilities being proposed to be set up in cooperation with China would be subject to regular IAEA inspections. Washingtons concerns also run counter to the 13-sector collaboration understanding jointly envisaged by Pakistan and USA recently. These thirteen sectors include agriculture, communications, public diplomacy, defense, security, economy/finance, law-enforcement and counter terrorism, science and technology, strategic stability and non proliferation, water and women empowerment. A massive cooperation agreement financed by Kerry-Lugar allocation of funds is designed to bridge the nagging trust deficit between the two nations. The unnecessary noise being raised over the nuclear cooperation between China and Pakistan is likely to undo whatever good-will emerges from the KL projects. In the wake of the second phase of US-Pak Strategic Dialogue held in Islamabad on July 19, the Foreign Ministers of two countries gave some very positive signals about new long-term relationship between the two allies against terrorism. Against backdrop of tall promises made at the Strategic Dialogue, the hue and cry being made over unfounded fears about Pak- China deal are likely to pour cold water on prospects of an enduring friendship which is, after all, the ultimate goal of the whole process. Over the past half century, Pakistan has been the most allied ally of the US and has paid a very heavy price for that uneven relationship. Pakistan and US, in alliance with others, defeated the USSR and are now engaged in another war. The war on terror has caused Pakistan astronomically high losses in human and material resources. The bill for our fight against terror runs into no less than 50 billion dollars and is rising. In the cold war, Pakistan had served as a bridge to bring US and China on one page but that singularly priceless contribution of Islamabad for the security of United States brought no matching relief to Pakistan. Pakistan was used merely as a disposable thing. The misgivings between Islamabad and Washington are historical. The Indo-Pak wars of 1948, 1965 and 1971 readily come to mind as grim reminders of breach of trust and betrayals. The assassination of our most revered leaders, Z. A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto took place because Generals at helm were the blue-eyed boys of United States. The memory of these unforgettable tragedies have, naturally, left a bad taste in mouth. To open a bold new chapter of lasting friendship, America now has to make the first moves. Pakistan, of course, welcomes the KL initiative to assist Pakistan but this is just not enough. Time now for America to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan as we had become a link between China and USA. Pakistan, if called upon to do so, can mediate between Iran and America in return for the favour. -B. A. MALIK, Islamabad, July 21.